Defining Anatomical Structural Terms - Anatomy

Plantar flexion is the movement where the angle between the sole of the foot and the back of the leg decreases. Plantar flexors are part of the posterior compartment of the lower leg, and consist of flexor hallucis longus and flexor digitorum. These muscles not only work in plantar flexion but also flex the phalanges of the foot (toes).

Abduction is a movement where structures increase their distance to the midline.

Dorsiflexion is a movement where the toes are brought closer to the shin.

Eversion is the movement of the sole of the foot away from the median plane; inversion is the movement of the sole towards the median plane.

The cervical region refers to the neck, which contains the seven cervical vertebrae. This region of the spine is the most flexible, allowing for anterior, posterior, and lateral deviations as well as twisting.

The coxal region refers to the hip joint, which is located lateral to the pelvis, but on the same level of the body as the coccyx. The term "occipital" refers to the back of the head, which houses the occipital lobe of the cerebrum and the occipital bone of the skull. Structures in the knee often contain the term "patellar" in reference to the patella bone located in this region.

There are holes and cavities in many bones of the body, with a large number located in the skull. These holes allow nerves, arteries, and veins to enter and pass through the bones. These holes are called foramen, and range in size depending on what passes through them. For example, the foramen magnum in the skull is where the spinal cord exits.

The mediastinum is an area found in the thorax that is contained by the pleural cavities laterally, by the sternum and the abdomen muscles anteriorly, and the vertebral column in the back. It has four main divisions: the superior, anterior, middle, and posterior. The different regions that make up the mediastinum contain important structures, vessels, and nerves. It is important to note that the mediastinum does not contain the lungs.

The skin, hair, and nails are associated with the integumentary system. The integumentary system is an organ system whose purpose is to protect the body from infectious diseases and bacteria.

The skeletal system gives us structure, support, protection, and leverage. Muscle gives us movement. Together, these elements form the musculoskeletal system. The endocrine system keeps our hormones leveled (prevents over or underproduction) and regulates metabolism. The immune system protects our bodies agains bacteria and viruses. The difference between the integumentary and immune systems is because the integumary system is for the first line of defense (i.e. a minor cut) and immune system is for the second line of defense (i.e. if bacteria from a cut infects your body).

Epithelial is a general tissue classification, and is not considered an organ system. Much of the integumentary system is composed of epithelial tissue.

The wrist is distal to the elbow simply because it is farther from the appendage attachment (in this case the shoulder). Proximal means that the structure is located closer to the appendage attachment. Lateral indicates that the structure is farther from the midline, while medial indicates that a structure is closer to the midline, relative to a point of comparison. In anatomical position, the wrist is lateral to the elbow; however, this is not always the case, depending on mostion of the arm. Horizontal means that if a horizontal line were cut through the middle of the body that both the elbow and the wrist would be on the same plane; this is not the case.

Enzymes are not consumed during the reaction. The enzymes are instead used to speed up a reaction by lowering activation energy. Enzymes are proteins, which are made up of amino acids. They are not consumed because they attach to the substrate and are released after the reaction is complete. As a catalyst's purpose is to speed up reactions, enzymes are classified as biological catalysts.

The spinal cord passes through a large hole in the base of the skull called the foramen magnum. Foramen are holes that vessels or nerves pass through. Nerves and veins can line grooves as well, but grooves are not enclosed. Fossa are small depressions in bones. Tubercles are raised projections on bones such as the tibial tuberosity that can be felt on the anterior portion of the leg just inferior to the knee.

The cervical region refers to the neck, including the "neck" of the uterus in females which is referred to as the cervix. The face is known as the facial region, the chest is the pectoral or thoracic region, and the arm is known as the brachial region.

The antebrachial region is the forearm area. The arm, which includes the biceps area, is known as the brachial region. The thigh is known as the femoral region. The buttocks is also known as the gluteal region.

The kneecap area is known as the patellar region. The cural region is the lower leg (below the knee.) The carpal region is the wrist and the lumbar region is the lower back.

Acromial refers to the shoulders. The name is derived from the acromioclavicular joint between the acromion of the scapula and the clavicle in the shoulder.

Only plantar and hallux are correct which correspond to the bottom of the foot and the big toe respectively. The rest of terms are in widely different regions of the body. Palmar and hallux refers to the palms and the big toes. Inguinal and buccal refers to the groin and the area of the cheeks on the face. The pollux and olecranon refers to the thumb and the back of the elbow.

The correct answer is the direction of fascicles. Each term refers to a different direction of the fibers of a muscle or the muscle as a whole:

• rectus = straight
• transverse = across
• oblique = diagonally
• orbicularis = circular

For example, the rectus abdominis muscles run straight across the abdomen/midline and go through the belly-button. These straight fibers and muscles, when lean and well-toned, create the "six-pack."

The other answer choices are all involved in naming of muscles, but their groups do not contain the terms rectus, transverse, oblique and orbicularis.

• size = vastus (biggest), maximus (large), minimus (small), longus (long), brevis (short)

The following are examples of how to use other characteristics to name muscles:

• location = pectoralis (chest), gluteus (buttocks), brachii (arm), supra- (above), infra- (below), sub- (under/ beneath), lateralis (lateral)
• shape = deltoid (triangular), rhomboid (like a rhombus), latissimus (wide), teres (round), trapezius (like a trapezoid)
• origin and insertion = sternocleidomastoideus (origin on the sternum and clavicle, insertion on the mastoid process), brachioradialis (origin on the brachium or arm, insertion on the radius)

The correct answer is cutaneous.

The human body is made up of 4 major components/ structures: cells, tissues, organs, organ systems. The most basic structure is the cell, which can maintain life and reproduce. Tissues are organizations of cells that have similar functions (epithelial, connective, muscular, and nervous). Organs are organizations of different kinds of tissues that are arranged to perform a function. A system is an organization of organs that work together to perform functions for the body.

There is no such thing as the cutaneous organ system. The other answer choices are all systems within the human body. There are 10 major systems in the body. In addition to the skeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, and reproductive systems the body also has a muscular, nervous, endocrine, lymphatic, digestive, and urinary system.

By definition, a foramen is any hole through a bone through which muscles, nerves, and blood vessels can pass and connect body parts together. A tubercle is a rounded projection on a bone. A condyle is a rounded projection on the end of a bone. A fossa is a a depression in a bone, and is often a site of articulation. A sinus is a cavity within a bone or other tissue.

The cubital region is the area around the elbows. The kneecaps are in know as the patellar region. The thighs are in the femoral region. The armpit are in the axillary region.

The cervical region of the spine is the neck area. The thoracic spine is the mid back area, and the lumbar spine is the lower back area.

Osseous tissue, also known as bone tissue, is a type of connective tissue.