Body Organization and Anatomic Terminology
Learning Objectives, Topics, & Key Terms
Fall Semester 2004Readings: Martini, Chapter 1
Levels of Biological Organization
Objective: Define the levels of biological organization and the relationships between them.
Levels of Organization (from atomic to organism)
Atomic (e.g. ions such as Ca
2+)Molecular (e.g., proteins)
Supramolecular (e.g., organelles)
Cellular
Tissues
Organs
Organ Systems
Organism
Objective:
Know the organ systems and their main functions.Organ Systems
Integumentary
Skeletal
Muscular
Nervous
Endocrine
Cardiovascular
Blood and Lymphatic
Respiratory
Digestive
Urinary
Reproduction
Body Geography
Objective: Describe the two principal body regions
Axial Region (trunk)
Appendicular Regions (limbs)
Objective: Describe the relative positions of two body parts by using anatomical directions.
Anatomical Directions (relative position)
superior (cranial)
inferior (caudal)
anterior (ventral)
posterior (dorsal)
medial
lateral
ipsilateral
contralateral
proximal
distal
superficial
deep
Objective: Describe the standard anatomical planes.
sagittal plane
frontal plane (also called coronal for head and brain)
transverse (also called horizontal plane, cross-section)
Body Cavities/Abdominopelvic Regions
Objective: Identify the major body cavities.
dorsal cavity
cranial
spinal
ventral cavity
thoracic
pleural
mediastinum
abdominopelvic
abdominal
pelvic
Objective: Identify abdominopelvic regions and know the major organs within each.
(two different systems)
quadrant system
right upper
right lower
left upper
left lower
classical system
epigastric
right hypochondriac
left hypochondriac
umbilical
right lumbar
left lumbar
hypogastric
right iliac
left iliac
Common Descriptive Terms
Objective: Define some common regional descriptive terms.
acromial
antebrachial
antecubital
axillary
brachial
buccal
carpal
cervical
costal
digital
femoral
gluteal
inguinal
lingual
lumbar
mammary
mental
occipital
orbital
pectoral
perineal
plantar
popliteal
radial
sacral
somatic
temporal
ulnar
visceral
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Durham Technical Community College
Durham, NC 27703
Last updated 8 August 2004