Anatomical Position and Body Structure
Suffices Meaning “Pertaining To”
● -ac
● -al
● -ic
● -tic
● -y
Directional Prefixes
● Bi- two
● Dia- through
● Hyper/hypo- above
● Meta- after
● Neo- new
● Uni- one
Body Structure
Four parts:
1. Cells
2. Tissues
3. Organs
4. Systems
Cells
● Start with the cell.
● Considered the smallest unit of life.
○ Cell Membrane- Covering on the outside of the cell.
○ Cytoplasm- The living material within the cell between the cell membrane and the
nucleus.
○ Nucleus- The “brain” of the cell that contains DNA.
○ Chromosomes- Made of DNA and are passed from parent to new cells.
○ DNA- Gives instructions and stores information.
○ RNA- Translates the DNA into proteins.
Tissues
Four types:
1. Connective- Holds the body together; assists in connecting, supporting, penetrating, and
encasing various structures in the human body.
2. Epithelial- Covers surfaces and lines cavities.
3. Muscular- Allows body movements.
4. Nervous- Conducts nerve impulses that coordinate and control actions of the human
body.
Organs
● Brain
● Kidneys
, ● Lungs
Systems
Eleven types:
1. Circulatory- Heart and blood.
2. Integumentary- Skin, hair, sweat, and sebaceous glands that work together to form
protective coverings.
3. Muscular- Muscle and skeletal system for movement, body framework, and organ
support.
4. Skeletal- Muscle and skeletal system for movement, body framework, and organ
support.
5. Digestive- Transport foods, nutrients, and excretes waste.
6. Respiratory- Carries oxygen through the body.
7. Nervous- Brain and Nervous.
8. Lymphatic
9. Human reproductive
10.Endocrine
11.Urinary
Body Cavities
Six parts:
1. Abdominal- Houses the stomach, liver, kidneys, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, ureters,
and intestines.
2. Thoracic- Houses the heart and lungs. It’s surrounded and protected by the ribs,
sternum, and vertebrae. This space also consists of the aorta, esophagus, trachea, and
bronchi.
The thoracic cavity is often called the chest.
3. Pelvic- Space that contains specific reproductive organs, the urinary bladder, rectum,
and portions of the large intestine.
4. Cranial- Houses the brain and is surrounded and protected by the cranium, or skull.
5. Pleural- Space within the pleura that surrounds the lungs.
6. Spinal- Houses the spine and is surrounded and protected by the bones of the spine,
called the vertebrae.
Vertebrae is the plural form. If you’re talking about one, it’s a vertebra.
Body Direction and Location Medical Terms
● Midsagittal or Median Plane- A vertical plane through the middle of the body, dividing
● it into equal right and left halves.
● Transverse Plane- A horizontal plane that divides the body into upper (top) and lower
(bottom) parts.
● Frontal or Coronal Plane- A vertical plane passing through the body, from head to feet,
dividing into anterior and posterior parts.
Directional Terms
● Posterior- Pertaining to the back of the body.
Suffices Meaning “Pertaining To”
● -ac
● -al
● -ic
● -tic
● -y
Directional Prefixes
● Bi- two
● Dia- through
● Hyper/hypo- above
● Meta- after
● Neo- new
● Uni- one
Body Structure
Four parts:
1. Cells
2. Tissues
3. Organs
4. Systems
Cells
● Start with the cell.
● Considered the smallest unit of life.
○ Cell Membrane- Covering on the outside of the cell.
○ Cytoplasm- The living material within the cell between the cell membrane and the
nucleus.
○ Nucleus- The “brain” of the cell that contains DNA.
○ Chromosomes- Made of DNA and are passed from parent to new cells.
○ DNA- Gives instructions and stores information.
○ RNA- Translates the DNA into proteins.
Tissues
Four types:
1. Connective- Holds the body together; assists in connecting, supporting, penetrating, and
encasing various structures in the human body.
2. Epithelial- Covers surfaces and lines cavities.
3. Muscular- Allows body movements.
4. Nervous- Conducts nerve impulses that coordinate and control actions of the human
body.
Organs
● Brain
● Kidneys
, ● Lungs
Systems
Eleven types:
1. Circulatory- Heart and blood.
2. Integumentary- Skin, hair, sweat, and sebaceous glands that work together to form
protective coverings.
3. Muscular- Muscle and skeletal system for movement, body framework, and organ
support.
4. Skeletal- Muscle and skeletal system for movement, body framework, and organ
support.
5. Digestive- Transport foods, nutrients, and excretes waste.
6. Respiratory- Carries oxygen through the body.
7. Nervous- Brain and Nervous.
8. Lymphatic
9. Human reproductive
10.Endocrine
11.Urinary
Body Cavities
Six parts:
1. Abdominal- Houses the stomach, liver, kidneys, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, ureters,
and intestines.
2. Thoracic- Houses the heart and lungs. It’s surrounded and protected by the ribs,
sternum, and vertebrae. This space also consists of the aorta, esophagus, trachea, and
bronchi.
The thoracic cavity is often called the chest.
3. Pelvic- Space that contains specific reproductive organs, the urinary bladder, rectum,
and portions of the large intestine.
4. Cranial- Houses the brain and is surrounded and protected by the cranium, or skull.
5. Pleural- Space within the pleura that surrounds the lungs.
6. Spinal- Houses the spine and is surrounded and protected by the bones of the spine,
called the vertebrae.
Vertebrae is the plural form. If you’re talking about one, it’s a vertebra.
Body Direction and Location Medical Terms
● Midsagittal or Median Plane- A vertical plane through the middle of the body, dividing
● it into equal right and left halves.
● Transverse Plane- A horizontal plane that divides the body into upper (top) and lower
(bottom) parts.
● Frontal or Coronal Plane- A vertical plane passing through the body, from head to feet,
dividing into anterior and posterior parts.
Directional Terms
● Posterior- Pertaining to the back of the body.
