lOMoAR cPSD| 13379626
ANHB1101 Notes - Summary Human Biology I: Becoming
Human
Human Biology I: Becoming Human (University of Western Australia)
GENERAL ANATOMY
Describe the anatomical position.
- Standard reference position for human body. Other descriptive terms rely on body in anatomical
position.
- Standing erect with both feet flat on floor, feet slightly apart, face facing forwards, upper limbs by
side with palms facing forward Describe the directional terms used in anatomy.
TERM DIRECTION
ANTERIOR (VENTRAL) Towards the front/ towards the belly
POSTERIOR (DORSAL) Towards the back
SUPERIOR (CRANIAL) Away from the ground/ towards the head
INFERIOR (CAUDAL) Towards the ground / towards the tail
MEDIAL Towards the midline of the body
LATERAL Away from the midline of the body
ISPILATERAL On the same side of the body as another
structure
CONTRALATERAL On the opposite side of the body from
another structure
SUPERFICIAL Towards the surface
DEEP Away from the surface
PROXIMAL Situated nearer to a point of attachment
DISTAL Situated further from a point of attachment
INTERMEDIATE Between two structures
BODY PLANES DESCRIPTIONS DIRECTIONAL
TERMS
SAGITTAL PLANES Run vertically and Medial, Lateral.
divide the body into Left, Right.
left and right
portions
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MIDSAGITTAL PLANE Runs vertically and
divides body into
equal left and right
portions
PARASAGITTAL PLANE Run vertically and
divide the body into
unequal left and
right portions
BODY PLANES DESCRIPTIONS DIRECTIONAL
TERMS
FRONTAL/CORONAL PLANE Run vertically and Anterior
divide the human (ventral),
body into anterior & Posterior (dorsal)
posterior portions
HORIZONTAL/CROSSSECTIONAL/TRANSVERSE Run parallel to the Superior
PLANES ground and divide (cranial), Inferior
the human body (caudal)
into superior and
inferior portions
OBLIQUE PLANES Passes through the
body or an organ at
an oblique angle
(i.e.
any angle other
than 90- degrees)
Use correct anatomical terminology for the various regions of the body and be able to describe
several components of each region.
AXIAL REGION DESCRIPTION (BONES, BOUNDARIES, CONTENTS)
HEAD (CEPHALIC REGION) Skull and face (cranium and mandible).
CERVICAL REGION (NECK) Region between the head and the trunk includes: 7 cervical
vertebrae, oesophagus, trachea, larynx.
TRUNK Includes thorax (chest), abdomen and pelvis.
THORACIC REGION Region between the neck and the abdomen. Bounded by
ribs (12 pairs), thoracic vertebrae and sternum. Separated
from abdomen by diaphragm, contains heart, lungs,
oesophagus and trachea.
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ABDOMINAL REGION Between thorax and pelvis. Posteriorly are lumbar
vertebrae. Bounded by abdominal muscles and diaphragm
and contains organs such as liver, stomach and small
intestine.
LUMBAR REGION Area around lumbar vertebrae (e.g. Lumbago = aching
back). Kidneys sit on either side of lumbar vertebrae.
PELVIC REGION Bounded by the bones of the pelvis (ilium, ischium, pubis,
sacrum bones) and the muscles which close the outlet of
the pelvis.
INGUINAL REGION (GROIN) Anterior surface of body where trunk attaches to thighs;
marked by a crease on each side.
APPENDICULAR REGION DESCRIPTION (BONES, BOUNDARIES, CONTENTS)
UPPER LIMB Appendage attached at the shoulder; consists of arm,
forearm, wrist, hand and fingers.
ARM (BRACHIUM) Between shoulder joint and elbow; contains the
humerus.
AXILLARY REGION Armpit
FOREARM Between the wrist and elbow; contains the radius and
ulna.
WRIST Joint between distal ends of radius and ulna and carpal
bones.
HAND Includes carpals, metacarpals and phalanges.
PALM Anterior surface of hand when in anatomical position.
DORSUM OF HAND Back of hand. Nails are on this surface.
LOWER LIMB Appendage attached to pelvis; includes buttock, thigh,
leg, ankle and foot.
THIGH Portion of lower limb from hip to knee; contains femur.
LEG Portion of of lower limb from knee to ankle; contains
tibia and fibula.
ANKLE Joint between tibia, fibula and talus (tarsal bone).
FOOT Tarsals, metatarsals and phalanges.
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PLANTAR SURFACE OF FOOT Sole; surface of foot on the ground in anatomical
position.
DORSUM OF FOOT Superior surface of the foot in anatomical position;
toenails are on this surface.
BODY CAVITY DESCRIPTION
CRANIAL CAVITY Formed by the cranial bones; contains the brain.
VERTEBRAL CAVITY Formed by the vertebral column; contains spinal cord and
beginnings of spinal nerves.
THORACIC CAVITY Chest cavity; contains pericardial and pleural cavities and
the mediastinum.
MEDIASTINUM Central portion of thoracic cavity between the lungs;
extends anterio-posteriorly from sternum to vertebral
column and superoinferiorly from first rib to diaphragm;
contains heart, great vessels (aorta, vena cavae),
esophagus, trachea and thymus.
BODY CAVITY DESCRIPTION
PERICARDIAL CAVITY Potential space between the layers of the pericardium
surrounding the heart.
PLEURAL CAVITY Potential space between the layers of the pleura
surrounding the lungs.
ABDOMINOPELVIC CAVITY Extends from diaphragm to groin, encircled by abdominal
musculature and muscles and bones of the pelvis;
subdivided into abdominal and pelvic cavities.
ABDOMINAL CAVITY Contains stomach, spleen, liver, gallbladder, small
intestine, and most of large intestine.
PELVIC CAVITY Contains urinary bladder, part of large intestine and
internal reproductive organs.
Use correct anatomical terminology to describe movements at joints.
JOINT DESCRIPTION/AMOUNT OF EXAMPLE
MOVEMENT
SYNOVIAL Bones united by a surrounding knee, elbow, ankle, wrist,
capsule with a joint cavity (synovial shoulder, hip etc
cavity) between the bones; cavity is
filled with fluid; freely moveable joint.
ANHB1101 Notes - Summary Human Biology I: Becoming
Human
Human Biology I: Becoming Human (University of Western Australia)
GENERAL ANATOMY
Describe the anatomical position.
- Standard reference position for human body. Other descriptive terms rely on body in anatomical
position.
- Standing erect with both feet flat on floor, feet slightly apart, face facing forwards, upper limbs by
side with palms facing forward Describe the directional terms used in anatomy.
TERM DIRECTION
ANTERIOR (VENTRAL) Towards the front/ towards the belly
POSTERIOR (DORSAL) Towards the back
SUPERIOR (CRANIAL) Away from the ground/ towards the head
INFERIOR (CAUDAL) Towards the ground / towards the tail
MEDIAL Towards the midline of the body
LATERAL Away from the midline of the body
ISPILATERAL On the same side of the body as another
structure
CONTRALATERAL On the opposite side of the body from
another structure
SUPERFICIAL Towards the surface
DEEP Away from the surface
PROXIMAL Situated nearer to a point of attachment
DISTAL Situated further from a point of attachment
INTERMEDIATE Between two structures
BODY PLANES DESCRIPTIONS DIRECTIONAL
TERMS
SAGITTAL PLANES Run vertically and Medial, Lateral.
divide the body into Left, Right.
left and right
portions
, lOMoAR cPSD| 13379626
MIDSAGITTAL PLANE Runs vertically and
divides body into
equal left and right
portions
PARASAGITTAL PLANE Run vertically and
divide the body into
unequal left and
right portions
BODY PLANES DESCRIPTIONS DIRECTIONAL
TERMS
FRONTAL/CORONAL PLANE Run vertically and Anterior
divide the human (ventral),
body into anterior & Posterior (dorsal)
posterior portions
HORIZONTAL/CROSSSECTIONAL/TRANSVERSE Run parallel to the Superior
PLANES ground and divide (cranial), Inferior
the human body (caudal)
into superior and
inferior portions
OBLIQUE PLANES Passes through the
body or an organ at
an oblique angle
(i.e.
any angle other
than 90- degrees)
Use correct anatomical terminology for the various regions of the body and be able to describe
several components of each region.
AXIAL REGION DESCRIPTION (BONES, BOUNDARIES, CONTENTS)
HEAD (CEPHALIC REGION) Skull and face (cranium and mandible).
CERVICAL REGION (NECK) Region between the head and the trunk includes: 7 cervical
vertebrae, oesophagus, trachea, larynx.
TRUNK Includes thorax (chest), abdomen and pelvis.
THORACIC REGION Region between the neck and the abdomen. Bounded by
ribs (12 pairs), thoracic vertebrae and sternum. Separated
from abdomen by diaphragm, contains heart, lungs,
oesophagus and trachea.
, lOMoAR cPSD| 13379626
ABDOMINAL REGION Between thorax and pelvis. Posteriorly are lumbar
vertebrae. Bounded by abdominal muscles and diaphragm
and contains organs such as liver, stomach and small
intestine.
LUMBAR REGION Area around lumbar vertebrae (e.g. Lumbago = aching
back). Kidneys sit on either side of lumbar vertebrae.
PELVIC REGION Bounded by the bones of the pelvis (ilium, ischium, pubis,
sacrum bones) and the muscles which close the outlet of
the pelvis.
INGUINAL REGION (GROIN) Anterior surface of body where trunk attaches to thighs;
marked by a crease on each side.
APPENDICULAR REGION DESCRIPTION (BONES, BOUNDARIES, CONTENTS)
UPPER LIMB Appendage attached at the shoulder; consists of arm,
forearm, wrist, hand and fingers.
ARM (BRACHIUM) Between shoulder joint and elbow; contains the
humerus.
AXILLARY REGION Armpit
FOREARM Between the wrist and elbow; contains the radius and
ulna.
WRIST Joint between distal ends of radius and ulna and carpal
bones.
HAND Includes carpals, metacarpals and phalanges.
PALM Anterior surface of hand when in anatomical position.
DORSUM OF HAND Back of hand. Nails are on this surface.
LOWER LIMB Appendage attached to pelvis; includes buttock, thigh,
leg, ankle and foot.
THIGH Portion of lower limb from hip to knee; contains femur.
LEG Portion of of lower limb from knee to ankle; contains
tibia and fibula.
ANKLE Joint between tibia, fibula and talus (tarsal bone).
FOOT Tarsals, metatarsals and phalanges.
, lOMoAR cPSD| 13379626
PLANTAR SURFACE OF FOOT Sole; surface of foot on the ground in anatomical
position.
DORSUM OF FOOT Superior surface of the foot in anatomical position;
toenails are on this surface.
BODY CAVITY DESCRIPTION
CRANIAL CAVITY Formed by the cranial bones; contains the brain.
VERTEBRAL CAVITY Formed by the vertebral column; contains spinal cord and
beginnings of spinal nerves.
THORACIC CAVITY Chest cavity; contains pericardial and pleural cavities and
the mediastinum.
MEDIASTINUM Central portion of thoracic cavity between the lungs;
extends anterio-posteriorly from sternum to vertebral
column and superoinferiorly from first rib to diaphragm;
contains heart, great vessels (aorta, vena cavae),
esophagus, trachea and thymus.
BODY CAVITY DESCRIPTION
PERICARDIAL CAVITY Potential space between the layers of the pericardium
surrounding the heart.
PLEURAL CAVITY Potential space between the layers of the pleura
surrounding the lungs.
ABDOMINOPELVIC CAVITY Extends from diaphragm to groin, encircled by abdominal
musculature and muscles and bones of the pelvis;
subdivided into abdominal and pelvic cavities.
ABDOMINAL CAVITY Contains stomach, spleen, liver, gallbladder, small
intestine, and most of large intestine.
PELVIC CAVITY Contains urinary bladder, part of large intestine and
internal reproductive organs.
Use correct anatomical terminology to describe movements at joints.
JOINT DESCRIPTION/AMOUNT OF EXAMPLE
MOVEMENT
SYNOVIAL Bones united by a surrounding knee, elbow, ankle, wrist,
capsule with a joint cavity (synovial shoulder, hip etc
cavity) between the bones; cavity is
filled with fluid; freely moveable joint.
