Name: anatomical terms and body position
Uploaded: 2023-06-23T15:38:43.000Z
Duration: 1 min 20 s
Channel: JoVE

K12 Standards

ohios-learning-standards-and-model-curriculum

Ohio’s Learning Standards and Model Curriculum

9-12

Human Anatomy and Physiology

Levels Of Organization

Anatomical Terminology

Standard anatomical terminology is universally used to study the human body&#39;s structure and internal organization.
These terms often have Greek or Latin-derived roots, prefixes, or suffixes. The root is the central portion of the word that can refer to an organ, tissue, or condition.&#160;&#160;
For example, the root gastro-refers to the stomach. Adding epi, meaning above, as a prefix before the root creates the term epigastric, which describes the location above the stomach.
The suffix itis refers to inflammation. Linking itis to the root arthro-, meaning joints, forms the term arthritis. Similarly, bronchitis and gastritis mean inflammation of a part of the lungs and the stomach, respectively.
Similarly, to understand anatomical directions, anatomists use the standard anatomical reference position. For example, when a person is standing upright facing forward, the front of the body is called the anterior or ventral side, and the back is the posterior or dorsal side.
Thus, the heart is anterior to the spine and posterior to the sternum.

anatomical terminology

Knowledge of anatomy is essential to understand human biology and medicine. Anatomists and health care professionals use standard terminology to describe the human body with more precision and no ambiguity. Anatomical terms have mostly Greek and Latin-derived roots. Because these languages are rarely used in conversation, the meaning of words remains the same. Each term is made up of a root in between the prefixes and suffixes. The root of a term often refers to an organ, tissue, or condition, whereas the prefix or suffix often describes the root. For example, in the disorder hypertension, the prefix &#34;hyper-&#34; means &#34;high&#34; or &#34;over&#34; and the root word &#34;tension&#34; refers to pressure, so the word &#34;hypertension&#34; refers to abnormally high blood pressure.
Anatomists standardize how they view the body. The standard anatomical reference position is standing upright with parallel feet, shoulders wide, and toes forward. The upper limbs are held to each side, and the palms of the hands face ahead. Following the standard anatomical reference position to locate or refer to the body part minimizes confusion, especially during routine examinations and procedures. For example, a scar on the carpal is on the palm side of the wrist. When concerning orientation, the body lying down is described as either prone (face down) or supine (a face-up) orientation.
In addition, human body regions have specific terms to indicate the location, number or color of a particular structure, organ or tissue. For instance, the term &#34;brachium&#34; refers to the &#34;upper arm,&#34; and &#34;antebrachium&#34; or &#34;forearm&#34; is used rather than &#34;lower arm.&#34; Terms become essential while describing the relative locations of different body structures. For instance, superior and inferior terms are often used to describe the position of the head with respect to the lower part of the body.
Brief history
Terminologia Anatomica (TA) is the international standard on human anatomical terminology used worldwide. The Federative Committee on Anatomical Terminology and the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists developed and released it in 1998. It replaced the previous standard Nomina Anatomica. Terminologia Histologica (TH) is a companion text to TA developed by the renamed Federative International Committee on Anatomical Terminology (FICAT) that was published in 2008. TA contains terminology for about 7500 human gross (macroscopic) anatomical structures, while TH contains terminology for cellular structures, tissue and organs at the microscopic level.
This text is adapted from <a href="https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology/pages/1-6-anatomical-terminology">Openstax, Anatomy and Physiology 2e, Section 1.6: </a><a href="https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology/pages/1-6-anatomical-terminology">Anatomical Terminologies</a>.

Knowledge of anatomy is essential to understand human biology and medicine. Anatomists and health care professionals use standard terminology to describe ...

Education

JoVE Core

Anatomy and Physiology

Unit 1

Introduction to the Human Body

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

anatomical terms and body position

Anatomical terms help describe the human body clearly in biology and medicine. Health care professionals and anatomists use this standard language to avoid confusion and to make descriptions more precise. Most anatomical words come from Greek and Latin roots, and these roots usually stay the same because the languages are rarely used in everyday conversation.

Many anatomical words are built from a root plus a prefix or suffix. The root often names an organ, tissue, or condition. The prefix or suffix then changes the meaning of that root. For example, in hypertension, the prefix &quot;hyper-&quot; means high or over, and the root &quot;tension&quot; refers to pressure. Together, the word means abnormally high blood pressure.

Anatomists also use a standard anatomical reference position to describe the body. In this position, a person stands upright with parallel feet, shoulders wide, toes forward, and the arms at the sides. The palms face ahead. Using this common position helps people locate body parts with less confusion during exams and procedures.

Orientation terms also matter when describing body position. A body lying face down is called prone, and a body lying face up is called supine. Location terms are used for specific regions as well. For example, brachium means upper arm, and antebrachium means forearm rather than lower arm. A scar on the carpal is on the palm side of the wrist, and terms such as superior and inferior help compare the head with the lower part of the body.

These terms are part of international standards used worldwide. Terminologia Anatomica, or TA, was developed by the Federative Committee on Anatomical Terminology and the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists and released in 1998. It replaced Nomina Anatomica. A related reference, Terminologia Histologica, or TH, was published in 2008 by the renamed Federative International Committee on Anatomical Terminology. TA covers about 7,500 gross anatomical structures, while TH covers cellular structures, tissue, and organs at the microscopic level.

Anatomical Terms and Body Position

overview of anatomy and physiology

How Anatomy and Physiology Work Together

Human anatomy studies the structures of the body. Some body structures are so small that they can only be seen and examined with a microscope. Others are large enough to be viewed, handled, measured, and weighed. The word anatomy comes from a Greek root meaning “to cut apart.” Early study of the human body began with observing the outside of the body and the injuries seen in soldiers and other patients. Later, physicians were allowed to dissect dead bodies to learn more. Dissection means...

structural organization of the human body: an overview

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Levels of Organization in the Human Body

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functions of life

How the Human Body Keeps Going

Human life depends on metabolism, movement, development, growth, and reproduction. These functions help the body stay alive, maintain itself, and continue the species. Together, they show how the body uses energy and changes over time. Metabolism is the body’s use of energy and food molecules. It helps the body make fuel for movement, support body functions, and build and maintain body structures. Metabolism includes two kinds of reactions: anabolism and catabolism. Anabolism is the process...

requirements for human life

Human Survival Needs in the Body

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what is homeostasis?

Homeostasis and Negative Feedback

Homeostasis keeps the body’s internal conditions stable. The body does this by holding each physiological condition near a set point. A set point is the value around which the normal range changes, and the normal range is the small group of values that is healthiest and most stable. Human body temperature is a common example. Its set point is about 37°C, or 98.6°F, and it can shift a little above or below that point while still staying in range. Negative feedback helps maintain homeostasis.

negative and positive feedback

Feedback Loops in Body Balance

Negative and positive feedback help keep body conditions stable. These feedback loops control many body processes and support homeostasis, which is the maintenance of a steady internal environment. Negative feedback reduces a change and brings a system back toward its normal state. Positive feedback increases a change and pushes a process further in the same direction. Together, they show how the body can fine-tune responses when conditions shift. These control systems are important in many...

homeostatic imbalance

How Feedback Failure Disrupts Homeostasis

Homeostasis keeps the body’s internal conditions stable so cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems can work properly. The body uses control systems to regulate temperature, blood pressure, pH balance, and fluid balance. These controls depend on feedback loops, which can be positive or negative. Homeostatic imbalance happens when those feedback loops fail and the body can no longer maintain a stable internal environment. Injury, disease, environmental changes, genetic mutations, and aging can...

Anatomical terms help describe the human body clearly in biology and medicine. Health care professionals and anatomists use this standard language to avoid confusion and to make descriptions more precise. Most anatomical words come from Greek and Latin roots, and these roots usually stay the same because the languages are rarely used in everyday conversation. Many anatomical words are built from a root plus a prefix or suffix. The root often names an organ, tissue, or condition. The prefix or...

anatomical positions

Body Positions Used in Anatomy

Body positions used in anatomy give a shared way to describe where body parts are and how they face. These standard references help people talk about anatomical structures with the same meaning. The anatomical position is the main reference point for body orientation. In anatomical position, the body stands upright and faces forward. The feet are parallel and flat on the floor. The arms rest at the sides with the palms facing forward, and the head and eyes point forward. The most common...

regional terms

Anatomy Regions and Body Landmark Terms

Anatomy regions and body landmark terms help identify specific parts of the human body. These regional terms divide the body into areas with structures that support similar functions. They also make it easier to describe the exact area affected by an injury or disease. The human body is organized into two major regions: the axial region and the appendicular region. The axial region includes the body from the head to the abdomen and forms the central body axis. The appendicular region includes...

directional terms

Anatomical Direction and Body Position

Anatomical direction and body position terms help describe where one body structure is located in relation to another. These terms use comparisons, such as one tissue being inferior to another or a tumor being superficial to a deeper structure. They are based on the standard anatomical reference position, which uses the body in an upright pose. Anterior and posterior are a common pair of directional terms. Anterior, also called ventral, means toward the front of the body. Posterior, also...

body planes

Anatomy Sections and Body Planes

Anatomy sections and body planes are imaginary flat surfaces used to divide the body for study. They help show the orientation, relationships, and spatial layout of anatomical structures. These reference planes are also useful for describing organs and body parts in a standard way. The sagittal plane divides the body or an organ vertically into right and left sides. When that cut goes through the middle and makes equal halves, it is called the midsagittal or median plane. When it makes unequal...

anatomical movements

Body Joint Motion Terms

Body joint motion terms describe how bones and muscles move at different joints. These standard names make it easier to talk about range of motion in the body. They are used to describe actions at the shoulder, hip, elbow, knee, wrist, fingers, toes, and spine. Flexion and extension are movements in the sagittal plane, also called the anterior-posterior plane. Flexion is the forward bending motion of the head or vertebral column. Extension is the backward movement or straightening of a joint,...

abdominal regions and quadrants

Abdominal Pain and Organ Location

The abdominal cavity is divided into quadrants and regions to help locate organs and describe pain clearly. Clinicians and anatomists use imaginary lines to mark the abdominopelvic cavity. This system makes it easier to communicate about a patient’s symptoms or a suspicious mass. The simpler method divides the area into four quadrants. One horizontal line and one vertical line cross at the umbilicus, or navel. These quadrants are the right upper quadrant, right lower quadrant, left upper...

key terms and concepts

Learn how anatomical terms, body position, and standard reference language help scientists and health professionals describe the human body clearly.

Anatomical Terms and Body Position | JoVE K12

anatomy and physiology

JoVE Core Anatomy and Physiology showcases the anatomical and physiological details of the human body in comprehensive, clear, and engaging video animations. This collection of lessons focuses on the structures, components, functions, and requirements of the human body. It is complemented by scientist-in-action videos that demonstrate the application of this knowledge in real-world medical and research settings.

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Anatomical Terms and Body Position

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