General Anatomy and Physiology

• Anatomy

  The study of the structures of the body
• Physiology

  The study of the function of the body
• Body Cavity


  Hollow area of the body containing organs
• Regional Term


  Term describing a specific part of the body
• Positional Term


  Term used to describe a position or direction in the body
• Positional Term


  Term used to describe a specific location of a body structure
• The human body can be divided into two basic sections: the axial section and the appendicular section
• Axial section

  Contains the head, neck, and trunk
• Appendicular section


  Contains the arms and legs, also known as the upper and lower extremities
• Ventral cavity


  The front part of the body
• Dorsal cavity


  The back part of the body
• Thoracic cavity


  The chest area
• Abdominopelvic cavity


  The stomach area
• Diaphragm


  Structure that separates the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities
• Cranial cavity


  Located in the head, contains the brain
• Spinal canal


  Runs down the back, contains the spinal cord
• Smaller cavities in the body


  • Oral (teeth, tongue)
  • Nasal (sinuses)
  • Orbital (eyes and associated muscles, nerves)
  • Middle ear (middle ear bones)
• Anatomical position


  The reference position used in anatomy to describe the location of body parts
• Positional terms


  • Superior/Inferior
  • Anterior/Posterior
  • Medial/Lateral
  • Proximal/Distal
  • Superficial/Deep
  • Ipsilateral/Contralateral
• The positional terms usually go in pairs
• Anterior


  Towards the front
• Posterior


  Towards the back
• Medial


  Toward the midline of the body
• Lateral


  Away from the midline
• Proximal


  Towards the trunk of the body
• Distal


  Away from the trunk
• Superficial


  Toward the surface
• Deep


  Under the surface
• Ipsilateral


  On the same side
• Contralateral


  On the opposite side
• Common Term (anatomical term and region): Foot

  Pets, Pedal
• Common Term (anatomical term and region): Shin


  Crus, Crural
• Common Term (anatomical term and region): Calf 


  Sura, Sural
• Common Term (anatomical term and region): Front of knee

  Patella, Patellar
• Common Term (anatomical term and region): Back of knee

  Popliteus, popliteal
• Common Term (anatomical term and region): Thigh

  Femoris, femoral
• Common Term (anatomical term and region): Groin

  Inguina, Inguinal
• Common Term (anatomical term and region): Butt

  Buttock, Gluteal
• Common Term (anatomical term and region): Stomach

  Abdomen, Abdominal
• Common Term (anatomical term and region): Low back

  Lumbus, lumbar