Chapter 4 - Human Body Terminology

Front 1

The study of body structure

Back 1

Anatomy

Front 2

the study of body function

Back 2

Physiology

Front 3

the standard reference position for the body in the study of anatomy. In this positions, the body is standing erect, facing the observer, with arms down at the sides and the palms of the hands forward.

Back 3

Anatomical Position

Front 4

a flat surface formed when slicing through a solid object

Back 4

Plane

Front 5

an imaginary line drawn down the center of the body, dividing it into right and left halves

Back 5

Midline

Front 6

toward the midline of the body

Back 6

Medial

Front 7

to the side, away from the midline of the body.

Back 7

lateral

Front 8

on both sides

Back 8

bilateral

Front 9

a line drawn vertically from the middle of the armpit to the ankle

Back 9

mid-axillary

Front 10

the front of the body or body part

Back 10

anterior

Front 11

The back of the body or body part

Back 11

posterior

Front 12

referring to the front of the body. A synonym for anterior.

Back 12

ventral

Front 13

referring to the back of the body or the back of the hand or foot. A synonym for posterior.

Back 13

dorsal

Front 14

toward the head

Back 14

superior

Front 15

away from the head; usually compared with another structure closer to the head

Back 15

inferior

Front 16

closer to the torso

Back 16

distal

Front 17

the trunk of the body; the body without the head and the extremities

Back 17

torso

Front 18

referring to the palm of the hand

Back 18

palmar

Front 19

referring to the sole of the foot

Back 19

plantar

Front 20

the line through the center of each clavicle

Back 20

mid-clavicular line

Front 21

four divisions of the abdomen used to pinpoint the location of a pain or injury:

Back 21

abdominal quadrants

Front 22

lying on the back

Back 22

supine

Front 23

lying face down

Back 23

prone

Front 24

lying on the side. Also called the lateral recumbent position.

Back 24

recovery position

Front 25

a sitting position

Back 25

fowler's position

Front 26

a position in which the patient's feet and legs are higher than the head. Also called the shock position.

Back 26

Trendelenburg position

Front 27

the system of bones and skeletal muscles that support and protect the body and permit movement

Back 27

musculoskeletal system

Front 28

the bones of the body

Back 28

skeleton

Front 29

tissue that can contract to allow movement of a body part

Back 29

muscle

Front 30

tissue that connects bone to bone

Back 30

ligament

Front 31

tissue that connects muscle to bone

Back 31

tendon

Front 32

the body structure of the head

Back 32

skull

Front 33

the top, back, and sides of the skull

Back 33

cranium

Front 34

the lower jaw bone

Back 34

mandible

Front 35

the two fused bones forming the upper jaw

Back 35

maxillae

Front 36

the nose bones

Back 36

nasal bones

Front 37

the bony structures around the eyes; the eye socket

Back 37

orbits

Front 38

form the structure of the cheeks

Back 38

zygomatic arches

Front 39

the 33 bones of the spinal column

Back 39

vertebrae

Front 40

the chest

Back 40

thorax

Front 41

the breastbone

Back 41

sternum

Front 42

the superior portion of the sternum

Back 42

manubrium

Front 43

the inferior portion of the sternum

Back 43

xiphoid process

Front 44

the basin shaped bondy structure that supports the spine and is hte point of proximal attachment for the lower extremities

Back 44

pelvis

Front 45

the superior and widest portion of the pelvis

Back 45

ilium

Front 46

the lower, posterior portions of the pelvis

Back 46

ischium

Front 47

the medial, posterior portions of the pelvis

Back 47

ischium

Front 48

the medial anterior portion of the pelvis

Back 48

pubis

Front 49

the pelvic socket into which the ball at the proximal end of the femur fits to form the hip joint.

Back 49

acetabulum

Front 50

the large bone of the thigh

Back 50

femur

Front 51

the kneecap

Back 51

patella

Front 52

the medial and larger bone of the lower leg

Back 52

tibia

Front 53

the lateral and smaller bone of the lower leg

Back 53

fibula

Front 54

protrusion on the side of the ankle

Back 54

malleolus

Front 55

the ankle bones

Back 55

tarsals

Front 56

the foot bones

Back 56

metatarsals

Front 57

the heel bone

Back 57

calcaneus

Front 58

the toe bones and finger bones

Back 58

phalanges

Front 59

the collarbone

Back 59

clavicle

Front 60

the shoulder blade

Back 60

scapula

Front 61

the highest portion of the shoulder

Back 61

acromion process

Front 62

the joint where the acromion and the clavicle meet

Back 62

acromioclavicular joint

Front 63

the bone of the upper arm, between the shoulder and the elbow

Back 63

humerus

Front 64

the lateral bone of the forearm

Back 64

radius

Front 65

the medial bone of the forearm

Back 65

ulna

Front 66

the highest portion of the shoulder

Back 66

acromion process

Front 67

the joint where the acromion and the clavicle meet

Back 67

acromioclavicular joint

Front 68

the bone of the upper arm, between the shoulder and the elbow

Back 68

humerus

Front 69

the lateral bone of the forearm

Back 69

radius

Front 70

the medial bone of the forearm

Back 70

ulna

Front 71

the wrist bones

Back 71

carpals

Front 72

the hand bones

Back 72

metacarpals

Front 73

the point where two bones come together

Back 73

joint

Front 74

muscle that can be consciously controlled

Back 74

voluntary muscle

Front 75

muscle that responds automatically to brain signals but cannot be consciously controlled

Back 75

involuntary muscle

Front 76

specialized involuntary muscle found only in the heart

Back 76

cardiac muscle

Front 77

the ability of the heart to generate and conduct electrical impulses on its own

Back 77

automaticity

Front 78

the system of nose, mouth, throat, lungs, and muscles that brings oxygen into the body and expels carbon dioxide

Back 78

respiratory system

Front 79

the area directly posterior to the mouth

Back 79

oropharynx

Front 80

the area directly posterior to the nose

Back 80

nasopharynx

Front 81

the area directly posterior to the mouth and nos. It is made up of the oropharynx and the nasopharynx.

Back 81

pharynx

Front 82

the leaf shaped structure that prevents food and foreign matter from entering the trachea

Back 82

epiglottis

Front 83

the voice box

Back 83

larynx

Front 84

the ring shaped structure that forms the lower portion of the larynx

Back 84

cricoid cartilage

Front 85

the organs where exchange of atmospheric oxygen and waste carbon dioxide take place

Back 85

lungs

Front 86

the two large sets of branches that come off the trachea and enter the lungs

Back 86

bronchi

Front 87

the microscopic sacs of the lungs where gas exchange with the bloodstream takes place

Back 87

alveoli

Front 88

the muscular structure that divides the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. A major muscle of respiration.

Back 88

diaphragm

Front 89

an active process in which the intercostal (rib) muscles and the diaphragm contract, expanding the size of the chest cavity and causing air to flow into the lungs

Back 89

inhalation

Front 90

a passive process in which the intercostal (rib) muscles and the diaphragm relax, causing the chest cavity to decrease in size and air to flow out of the lungs.

Back 90

exhalation

Front 91

the system made up of the heart and the blood vessels; also known as the circulatory system

Back 91

cardiovascular system

Front 92

the two upper chambers of the heart.

Back 92

atria

Front 93

the two lower chambers of the heart

Back 93

ventricles

Front 94

the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava. These two major veins return blood from the body to the right atrium

Back 94

venae cavae

Front 95

a structure that opens and closes to permitthe flow of a fluid in only one direction

Back 95

valve

Front 96

a system of specialized muscle tissues which conduct electrical impulses that stimulate the heart to beat.

Back 96

cardiac conduction system

Front 97

any blood vessel carrying blood away from the heart

Back 97

artery

Front 98

blood vessels that supply the muscle of the heart

Back 98

coronary arteries

Front 99

the largerst artery in the body. It transports blood from the left ventricle to begin systematic circulation

Back 99

aorta

Front 100

the vessels that carry blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs

Back 100

pulmonary arteries

Front 101

the large neck arteries, one on each side of the neck, that carry blood from the heart to the head

Back 101

carotid arteries

Front 102

the major artery supplying the leg

Back 102

femoral artery

Front 103

artery of the upper arm; the site fo the pulse checked during infant CPR

Back 103

brachial artery

Front 104

artery of the lower arm. It is felt when taking the pulse at the wrist

Back 104

radial artery

Front 105

artery supplying the foot, behind the medial ankle

Back 105

posterior tibial artery

Front 106

artery supplying the foot, lateral to the large tendon of the big toe

Back 106

dorsalis pedis artery

Front 107

the smallest kind of artery

Back 107

arteriole

Front 108

a thin walled, microscopic blood vessel where the oxygen/carbon dioxide and nutrient/waste exchange with with the body's cells takes place

Back 108

capillary

Front 109

the smallest kind of vein

Back 109

venule

Front 110

any blood vessel returning blood to the heart

Back 110

vein

Front 111

the vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart

Back 111

pulmonary veins

Front 112

the fluid portion of the blood

Back 112

plasma

Front 113

components of the blood. They carry oxygen to and carbon dioxide away from the cells

Back 113

red blood cells

Front 114

components of the blood. They produce substances that help the body fight infection.

Back 114

white blood cells

Front 115

components of the blood; membrane-enclosed fragments of specialized cells

Back 115

platelets

Front 116

the rhytimic beats caused as waves of blood move through and expands the arteries

Back 116

pulse

Front 117

the radial, brachial, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis pulses, which can be felt at peripheral (outlying) points of the body

Back 117

peripheral pulses

Front 118

the carotid and femoral pulses, which can be felt in the central part of the body

Back 118

central pulses

Front 119

the pressure caused by blood exerting force against the walls of the blood vessels

Back 119

Blood pressure

Front 120

the pressure created in the arteries when the left ventricle contracts and forces blood out into circulation

Back 120

systolic blood pressure

Front 121

the pressure in the arteries when the left ventricle is refilling

Back 121

diastollic blood pressure

Front 122

the supply of oxygen to and removal of wastes from the cells and tissues fo the body as a result of the flow of blood through the capillaries

Back 122

perfusion

Front 123

inadequate perfusion of the cells and tissues of the body caused by insufficient flow of blood through the capillaries. Also known as Shock.

Back 123

hypoperfusion

Front 124

the system of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves that govern sensation, movement and thought

Back 124

nervous system

Front 125

the brain and spinal cord

Back 125

central nervous system

Front 126

the nerves that enter and leave the spinal cord and travel between the brain and organs without passing through the spinal cord

Back 126

peripheral nervous system

Front 127

the division o fthe peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary motor functions

Back 127

autonomic nervous system

Front 128

system by which food travels through the body and is digested, or broken down ito absorbable forms

Back 128

digestive system

Front 129

muscular sac between the esophagus and the small intestine where digestion of food begins

Back 129

stomach

Front 130

the muscular tube between the stomach and the large intestine, divided into the duodenum, the jejunum, and the ileum, which receives partially digested food from the stomach and continues digestion. Nutrients are absorbed bythe body through its walls.

Back 130

small intestine

Front 131

the muscular tube that removes water from waste products received from the small intestine and removes anything not absorbed by the body toward excretion from the body

Back 131

large intestine

Front 132

the largest internal organ of the body, produces bile to assist in breakdown of fats and assist in the metabolism of various substances in the body

Back 132

liver

Front 133

a sac on the underside of the liver that stores bile produced by the liver

Back 133

gallbladder

Front 134

a gland located behind the stomach that produces insulin and juices that assist in the digestion of food in the duodenum of the small intestine

Back 134

pancreas

Front 135

an organ located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen that acts as a blood filtration system and a reservoir for reserves of blood.

Back 135

spleen

Front 136

a small tube located near the junction of the small and large intestines in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen, the function of which is not well understood.

Back 136

appendix

Front 137

the layer of tissue between the body and the external environment

Back 137

skin

Front 138

the out layer of skin

Back 138

epidermis

Front 139

the inner (second) layer of skin, rich in blood vessels and nerves, found beneath the epidermis

Back 139

dermis

Front 140

the layers of fat and soft tissues found below the dermis

Back 140

subcutaneous layers

Front 141

system of glands that produce chemicals called hormones that help to regulate many body activities and functions

Back 141

endocrine system

Front 142

a hormone produced by the pancreas or taken as a medication by many diabetics

Back 142

insulin

Front 143

a hormone produced by the body. As a medication, it dilates respiratory passages and is used to relieve severe allergic reactions.

Back 143

epinephrine