Abdominal cavity: Cavity which contains the digestive organs.
Anatomy: The scientific study of the body’s structure.
Anatomists: Scientists who study the structure of the human body.
Anterior: Towards the front, or in front of another structure.
Atom: The smallest unit of matter that has the properties of an element.
Appendicular region: Region which includes the arms and legs (called appendages) that connect to the axial region.
Axial region: Region which makes up the main axis of the body, including the head, neck, chest, and abdomen.
Caudal: Near the tailbone or lowest part of the spinal column
Cell: The smallest independently functioning unit of a living organism.
Clavicle: Collarbone.
Contralateral: On the opposite side as another structure.
Control Center: Compares the value to the normal range
Coronal plane: Plane dividing the body or an organ into an anterior (front) and a posterior (rear) portion, also known as the frontal plane.
Cranial or cephalic: Towards the head.
Cranial cavity: Cavity which contains the brain.
Cytology: The study of cells.
Deep: Farther from the surface of the body.
Directional terms: The location of body structures related to each other based on the body in standard anatomical position.
Distal: Farther away from the point of origin or attachment to the body.
Dorsal: Toward the back side of the body.
Effector: Reverses the situation and returns the value to the set point or normal range.
Frontal plane: Plane dividing the body or an organ into an anterior (front) and a posterior (rear) portion, also known as the coronal plane.
Gross anatomy: The study of the large, easily visible parts of the body.
Homeostasis: A steady state of internal balance which the body works to maintain.
Histology: The study of tissues.
Inferior: Below or lower than another part of the body.
Ipsilateral: On the same side as another structure.
Lateral: Toward the side of the body.
Medial: Toward the midline of the body.
Mediastinum: Central portion of the thoracic cavity.
Microscopic anatomy: The study of structures seen only with the use of a microscope or other magnification.
Midsagittal plane: Vertical plane runs directly down the middle of the body.
Molecule: When two or more atoms combine chemically.
Negative feedback: A process that corrects a change in homeostasis by reversing it.
Normal range: A set of values that is considered healthy and stable.
Oblique plane: Divides the body at an angle between the horizontal and vertical planes.
Organ: An anatomically distinct structure of the body composed of two or more tissue types.
Organ system: A group of organs that work together to perform major functions or meet physiological needs of the body.
Parasagittal plane: The vertical plane dividing the body into unequal right and left sides.
Parietal layer: Serous membrane which lines the walls of the body cavity
Pelvic cavity: Cavity which contains the urinary bladder and reproductive organs.
Pericardium: The serous membrane that surrounds the heart, reducing friction caused by the beating of the heart.
Peritoneum: The serous membrane that surrounds several organs in the abdominopelvic cavity, reducing friction between the organs and the abdominal wall.
Physiology: The study of how body structures work to support life.
Plane: An imaginary two-dimensional surface that passes through the body.
Pleura: The serous membrane surrounding the lungs, reducing friction between the lungs and the chest wall.
Positive feedback: Enhances a change in the body’s physiological condition instead of reversing it.
Posterior: Towards the back, or behind another structure.
Posterior (dorsal) cavity: A body cavity located on the back (dorsal) side of the body
Prone: The body lying face-down.
Proximal: Closer to the point of origin or attachment to the body.
Receptor: Also known as a sensor, monitors a physiological value, such as temperature, respiratory rate, blood pressure, etc.
Regional anatomy: The study of the structures in a specific body region, such as the abdomen.
Sagittal plane: The plane that divides the body or an organ vertically into right and left sides.
Scans: “Virtual sections” of living bodies.
Sensor: Also known as a receptor, monitors a physiological value, such as temperature, respiratory rate, blood pressure, etc.
Serous membrane: A thin membrane that covers the walls and organs of the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities; also known as serosa.
Set point: The physiological value considered normal.
Spinal cavity: Cavity which contains the spinal cord; also known as the vertebral cavity.
Standard anatomical position: Positioning agreed upon by the international medical community in which a person is standing upright with the legs together or slightly apart, feet flat on the floor and facing forward, arms at the sides with the palms facing forward and thumbs pointing away from the body, and head and eyes straight ahead.
Superficial: Closer to the surface of the body.
Superior: Above or higher than another part of the body.
Supine: The body lying face-up.
Systemic anatomy: The study of the structures that make up a specific body system – a group of structures that work together to perform a specific function.
Thoracic cavity: The chest cavity containing the heart and lungs.
Transverse plane: Divides the body or an organ horizontally into upper and lower portions.
Tissue: A group of many similar cells that work together to perform a specific function.
Ventral: Toward the belly side of the body.
Ventral (anterior) cavity: Contains the lungs, heart, stomach, and intestines and allows for significant changes in the size and shape of these organs as they do their work.
Visceral layer: Serous membrane which covers the organs; it is also called the viscera.
