Unit C: Body Systems
OVERHEAD TRANSPARENCY
MASTERS
ANATOMY – study of the parts of the body
PHYSIOLOGY – function of the body
ANATOMICAL POSITION – standing erect with
face forward, arms at the side, palms forward
Anatomic Terminology – Position and Direction

ANTERIOR or VENTRAL – front or in front of

POSTERIOR or DORSAL – back or in back of

CRANIAL – refers to the head of the body

CAUDAL – means tail end

SUPERIOR – upper or above something

INFERIOR – lower or below something

MEDIAL – toward the middle

LATERAL – toward the side of the body

PROXIMAL – toward the point of attachment to
the body or the trunk of the body

DISTAL – away from the point of attachment to
the body

SUPERFICIAL (EXTERNAL) – near the surface
or outside the body

DEEP (INTERNAL) – inside the body
Body Planes and Sections

PLANES – imaginary anatomical dividing planes

SECTION – cut made through the body in the
direction of a certain plane

SAGITTAL PLANE – divides the body into right
and left parts

CORONAL (FRONTAL) PLANE – vertical cut at
right angles to saggital plane, divides the body
into anterior and posterior portions

TRANSVERSE PLANE – cross-section, a
horizontal cut that divides the body into upper
and lower parts
Cavities of the Body

DORSAL CAVITY – contains brain and spinal
cord – the brain is in the CRANIAL CAVITY and
the spinal cord is in the SPINAL CAVITY.

ANTERIOR or VENTRAL CAVITY contains the
THORACIC and ABDOMINOPELVIC CAVITIES

The thoracic cavity contains the lungs and heart

ABDOMINAL CAVITY contains stomach,
intestines, liver, gallbladder and pancreas

PELVIC CAVITY contains urinary bladder and
reproductive organs
Abdominopelvic Cavity Regions
L Hypochondriac
Epigastric
L Hypochondriac
Umbilical
R Lumbar
R Inguinal
L Lumbar
Hypogastric
L Inguinal
Tissues
TISSUES – cells grouped because they are similar
in shape, size, structure, and
function

EPITHELIAL TISSUE –
protects the body by covering
internal and external surfaces,
and produces secretions

CONNECTIVE TISSUE –
supports and connects organs
and tissue

MUSCLE TISSUE – has the ability to contract
and move the body

NERVOUS TISSUE – cells that react to stimuli
and conduct an impulse
ADIPOSE TISSUE – type of connective tissue that
stores fat cells
LIGAMENTS – strong, flexible bands of connective
tissue that hold bones firmly together at the joints
TENDONS – white bands of connective tissue
attaching skeletal muscle to bone
CARTILAGE – firm, flexible support of the embryonic
skeleton and part of the adult skeleton
MEMBRANES – formed by putting two thin layers of
tissue together, cells may secrete a fluid

MUCOUS MEMBRANES– lines digestive,
respiratory, reproductive and urinary systems –
produces mucous to lubricate and protect the
lining

SEROUS MEMBRANES – double-walled
membrane - produces a watery fluid, lines
closed body cavities
1. the outer part of the membrane that lines the
cavity is the PARIETAL membrane
2. the part that covers the organs is the
VISCERAL membrane.
 PLEURAL MEMBRANE – lines
thoracic or chest cavity and
protects the lungs
 PERICARDIAL MEMBRANE –
lines the heart cavity and protects the heart
 PERITONEAL MEMBRANE – lines the
abdominal cavity and protects abdominal
organs
Organs and Systems
ORGAN SYSTEM – a group of organs which act
together to perform a specific, related function

Integumentary

Skeletal

Muscular

Digestive

Respiratory

Circulatory

Excretory

Nervous

Endocrine

Reproductive