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The Language of Anatomy

Pre-Lab Quiz

1. In the anatomical position, the body is lying down. FALSE

2. With regard to surface anatomy, AXIAL refers to the structures along the centerline of
the body.
3. The term superficial refers to a structure that is TOWARD OR AT THE BODY SURFACE
4. The SAGITAL plane runs longitudinally and divides the body into right and left parts.
5. The dorsal body cavity can be divided into the CRANIAL cavity, which contains the brain,
and the VERTEBRAL cavity, which contains the spinal cord.

Practicing Using Correct Anatomical Terminology

1. The wrist is PROXIMAL to the hand.

2. The trachea (windpipe) is ANTERIOR to the spine.

3. The brain is SUPERIOR to the spinal cord.

4. The kidneys are POSTERIOR to the liver.

5. The nose is MEDIAL to the cheekbones.

6. The thumb is DISTAL to the ring finger.

7. The thorax is SUPERIOR to the abdomen.

8. The skin is SUPERFICIAL to the skeleton.

Identifying Organs in the Abdominopelvic Cavity

Name two organs found in the left upper quadrant.

STOMACH and DIAPHRAGM

Name two organs found in the right lower quadrant.

APPENDIX and SMALL INTESTINE

Which organ (Figure 1.8) is divided into identical halves by the median plane?
URINARY BLADDER
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Group Challenge

1. Arrange the following terms from superior to inferior: cervical, coxal, crural, femoral, lumbar,
mental, nasal, plantar, sternal, and tarsal.
mental, nasal, cervical, sternal, lumbar, coxal, crural, femoral, plantar, and tarsal

2. Arrange the following terms from proximal to distal: antebrachial, antecubital, brachial,
carpal, digital, and palmar.
brachial, antecubital, antibrachial, carpal, palmar, and digital

3. Arrange the following terms from medial to lateral: acromial, axillary, buccal, otic, pollex, and
umbilical.
umbilical, buccal, otic, axillary, acromial, and pollex

4. Arrange the following terms from distal to proximal: calcaneal, femoral, hallux, plantar,
popliteal, and sural.
hallax, plantar, calcaneal, sural, popliteal, and femoral

5. Name a plane that you could use to section a four-legged chair and still be able to sit in the
chair without falling over.
transverse

6. Name the abdominopelvic region that is both medial and inferior to the right lumbar region.
hypogastric

7. Name the type of inflammation (think “-itis”) that is typically accompanied by pain in the lower
right quadrant.
appendicitis

Surface Anatomy

1. Match each of the numbered descriptions with the related term in the key.

Key: a. buccal c. cephalic e. patellar

b. calcaneal d. digital f. scapular

BUCCAL 1. cheek PATELLAR 4. anterior aspect of knee

DIGITAL 2. the fingers CALCANEAL 5. heel of foot scapula

SCAPULA 3. shoulder blade region CEPHALIC 6. the head

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2. Indicate the following body areas on the accompanying diagram by placing the correct key
letter at the end of each line.

Key:
a. abdominal
b. antecubital
c. brachial
d. cervical
e. crural
f. femoral
g. fibular
h. gluteal
i. lumbar
j. occipital
k. oral
l. popliteal
m. pubic
n. sural
o. thoracic
p. umbilical

3. Classify each of the terms in the key question 2 above into one of the large body regions
indicated below. Insert appropriate key letters on the answer blanks.

b, c, e , f, g, l, n 1. appendicular a, d, h, I, j, k, m, o, p 2. axial

Body Orientation, Direction, Planes, and Sections

4. Describe completely the standard human anatomical position.

The human body is erect, feet slightly apart, feet flat on the floor, head and eyes directed
straight ahead, head and feet facing forward, and arms at the side with palms facing
forward.

5. Define section.
A section is a two-dimensional surface of a three-dimensional structure that has been
cut. The cut is made through the body wall or through an organ.
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6. Several incomplete statements are listed below. Correctly complete each statement by
choosing the appropriate anatomical term from the key. Record the key letters and/or terms on
the correspondingly numbered blanks below. Some terms are used more than once.

1. a. anterior 2. g. posterior 3. j. superior 4. j. superior

5. f. Medial 6. e. lateral 7. a. anterior 8. f. medial
9. h. proximal 10. b. distal 11. d. inferior 12. a. anterior
13. g. posterior 14. j. superior 15. i. sagittal 16. k. transverse
17. k. transverse 18. c. frontal 19. i. sagittal

7. Correctly identify each of the body planes by inserting the appropriate term for each on the
answer line below the drawing.

8. Draw a kidney as it appears when sectioned in each of the three different planes.
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9. Correctly identify each of the nine regions of the abdominopelvic cavity by inserting the
appropriate term for each of the letters indicated in the following

a. epigastric region
b. right hypochondriac region
c. left hypochondriac region
d. umbilical region
e. right lumbar region
f. left lumbar region
g. hypogastric (pubic) region
h. right iliac region
i. left iliac region

Body Cavities

10. Which body cavity would have to be opened for the following types of surgeries or
procedures? (Use the key to find the correct choice, and write the letter in same-numbered
blank. More than one choice may apply for some surgeries/procedures.)

Key: a. abdominopelvic c. dorsal e. thoracic

b. cranial d. spinal f. ventral

e, f 1. surgery to remove a cancerous lung lobe a, f 4. appendectomy

a, f 2. removal of the uterus, or womb a, f 5. stomach ulcer operation

b, c 3. removal of a brain tumor c, d 6. delivery of preoperative “saddle”

anesthetia

11. Name the muscle that subdivides the ventral body cavity.
DIAPHRAGM

12. What are the bony landmarks of the abdominopelvic cavity?

THE BONY LANDMARKS ARE THE SPINE AND PELVIC BONES.

13. Which body cavity affords the least protection to its internal structures?
ABDOMINAL
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14. What is the function of the serous membranes of the body?

SEROUS MEMBRANES LINE AND ENCLOSE SEVERAL BODY CAVITIES. IT
REDUCES FRICTION AS ORGANS IN THE VENTRAL CAVITY MOVE AGAINST
OTHER ORGANS AND CAVITY WALLS.

15. A nurse informs you that she is about to take blood from the antecubital region. What portion
of your body should you present to her?
YOUR ARM (THE ANTERIOR SURFACE OF THE ELBOW POINT)

16. Using the key, identify the small body cavities described below. Write the correct letter in
each blank line.

d. 1. holds the eyes in an anterior-facing position c. 4. contains the tongue

a. 2. houses three tiny bones involved in hearing e. 5. surrounds a joint
b. 3. contained within the nose

17. On the incomplete flowchart provided below:

• Fill in the cavity names as appropriate to boxes 3 through 8.
• Then, using either the name of the cavity or the box numbers, identify the descriptions
in the list that follows.

3 Cranial Cavity
4 Spinal Cavity
5 Thoracic Cavity
6 Abdominopelvic Cavity
7 Abdominal Cavity
8 Pelvic Cavity
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a. Dorsal body cavity e. Thoracic Cavity

b. Pelvic Cavity f. Abdominal Cavity
c. Cranial Cavity g. Thoracic Cavity
d. Ventral body cavity h. Abdominopelvic Cavity