Notes – Organization
Anatomy – branch of science that deals with the structure of body parts – forms and
arrangements
Physiology – concerned with the functions of body parts
Homeostasis – the tendency to maintain a stable internal environment
Levels of organization
Cell --- organelle --- tissue --- organs --- organs system --- organism
Organization of the human body
Axial – head, neck, trunk
appendicular – arms, legs
Dorsal
Spinal cavity
Ventral
cranial cavity
thoracic cavity
abdominopelvic cavity
Thoracic cavity separated from the
abdominopelvic cavity by the
diaphragm.
Oral cavity, nasal cavity, orbital cavities, middle ear cavities
Membranes
Parietal: refers to the membrane that is attached to the wall and forms the lining of a
cavity
Visceral: refers to the membrane that is deeper – toward the interior – and covers the
internal organs contained within a cavity
Thoracic membranes – pleura (lungs), pericardium (heart)
Abdominopelvic membranes – peritoneal membrane
Organ systems
1. Integumentary –
2. Skeletal
3. Muscular
4. Nervous
5. Endocrine
6. Digestive
7. Resoiratory
8. Circulatory
9. Lymphatic
10. Urinary
11. Reproductive
body covering
support and movement
integration and coordination
processing and transport
reproduction
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Anatomical terminology
Anatomical position – standing erect, face forward, arms at sides with the palms forward
superior – body part is above another
inferior – situated below another body part or toward the feet
anterior (ventral) – toward the front
posterior (dorsal) – opposite of anterior, toward the back
medial – toward the midline
lateral – toward the side with respect to the midline
proximal – closer to a point of attachment or closer to the trunk that another part
distal – farther from the point of attachment or farther from the trunk
superficial – situated near the surface; peripheral – outward or near the surface,
used to describe certain blood vessels and nerves
10. deep – describes parts that are more internal
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Body sections (Dissections)
1. sagittal – lengthwise cut that divides the body into right and left portions; if done
done the midline – midsagittal
2. transverse (horizontal) – cut that divided the body into superior and inferior
portions
3. frontal (coronal) – cut that divides the body into anterior and posterior portions
Body Regions
1. Abdominal
a. epigastric – upper middle
b. left and right hypochondriac – one each side of the epigastric
c. umbilical – middle
d. left and right lumbar – on each side of the umbilical
e. hypogastric – lower middle
f. left and right iliac – each side of the hypogastric
2. abdominal – regiona between the thorax and pelvis
3. acromial – point of the shoulder
4. antebrachial – the forearm
5. antecubital – the space in front of the elbow
6. axillary – the armpit
7. brachial – the upper arm
8. buccal – the cheek
9. carpal – the wrist
10. celiac – the abdomen
11. cephalic – the head
12. cervical - the neck
13. costal – the ribs
14. coxal – the hip
15. crural – the leg
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16. cubital – the elbow
17. digital – the finger
18. dorsal – the back
19. femoral – the thigh
20. frontal – the forehead
21. genital – reproductive organs
22. gluteal – the buttocks
23. inguinal – depressed area of the abdominal wall near the thigh (the groin)
24. lumbae – region of the lower back between the ribs and the pelvis (loin)
25. mammary – the breast
26. mental – the chin
27. nasal – the nose
28. occipital – the lower back region of the head
29. oral – the mouth
30. orbital – the eye cavity
31. otic – the ear
32. palmar – the palm of the hand
33. pectoral – the chest
34. pedal – the foot
35. pelvic – the pelvis
36. perineal – the region between the anus and the external reproductive organs
(perineum)
37. plantar – the sole of the foot
38. popliteal – the area behind the knee
39. sacral – the posterior region between the hipbones
40. sternal – the middle of the thorax anteriorly
41. tarsal – the instep of the foot
42. umbilical – the navel
43. vertebral – the spinal column
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