Anatomy Terminology

Front 1

Form

Back 1

Structure, shape, size, etc. of an object

Front 2

Function

Back 2

What an object does, how it works

Front 3

Gross

Back 3

Macroscopic view

Front 4

Regionally

Back 4

Examining all the structures in a region at once

Front 5

Systemically

Back 5

Examining all the structures in the body system by system

Front 6

Superficially

Back 6

Relating internal structures to overlying structural landmarks

Front 7

Cytology

Back 7

Studying the cells of the body

Front 8

Histology

Back 8

Studying the tissues of the body

Front 9

Abnormal form

Back 9

Studying structural changes made by disease

Front 10

Developmental

Back 10

Studying structural changes that occur naturally in the body

Front 11

Tissue

Back 11

Groups of similar cells that have a common function

Front 12

Organ

Back 12

Structure composed of at least two tissue types

Front 13

System

Back 13

A group of organs that function together for a common purpose

Front 14

Body

Back 14

The highest level of organisation; the sum total of all levels working together to keep us alive

Front 15

The anatomical position

Back 15

Standing upright

Lower limbs together

Arms to the side

Head upright

Front 16

Coronal plane

Back 16

Separates the ventral and dorsal

Front 17

Medial sagittal

Back 17

Separates the left and right through the middle

Front 18

Parasagittal

Back 18

Separates the left and right but not through the middle

Front 19

Transverse plane

Back 19

Separates the superior and inferior

Front 20

Superior

Back 20

Upper part of the body

Front 21

Inferior

Back 21

Lower part of the body

Front 22

Medial

Back 22

Centre of the body

Front 23

Lateral

Back 23

Left or right of the medial point

Front 24

Anterior

Back 24

Front/ventral

Front 25

Posterior

Back 25

Back/dorsal

Front 26

Ventral

Back 26

Front

Front 27

Dorsal

Back 27

Back

Front 28

Proximal

Back 28

Close to origin

Front 29

Distal

Back 29

Far from origin

Front 30

Axial skeleton

Back 30

Stationary part of the skeleton; spine, skull and ribs

Front 31

Appendicular skeleton

Back 31

Mobile part of the skeleton that attaches to the axial skeleton; limbs and pelvis

Front 32

Superficial

Back 32

Close (to the skin)

Front 33

Deep

Back 33

Far (from the skin)

Front 34

Lumbar

Back 34

Part of the spine/the abdomen

Front 35

Pleural cavity

Back 35

Contains the lungs

Front 36

Pericardial cavity

Back 36

Contains the heart

Front 37

Cervical vertebrae

Back 37

First 7 vertebrae (C1-C7)

Front 38

Thoracic vertebrae

Back 38

8th - 19th vertebrae (T1-T12)

Front 39

Lumbar vertebrae

Back 39

20th-24th vertebrae (L1-L5)

Front 40

Sacrum

Back 40

5 fused vertebrae near the base of the spinal column

Front 41

Coccyx

Back 41

2-5 fused vertebrae at the base of the spinal column

Front 42

Lordosis

Back 42

Inward curve of the spine

Front 43

Kyphosis

Back 43

Outward curve of the spine