Body Planes

Question 1

Shape and structure of an organism’s body and the relationship of one body part to another

Answer 1

anatomy

Question 2

Function of each body part and how the functions of various body parts coordinate to form a complete living organism

Answer 2

physiology

Question 3

Study of large and easily observable structures on an organism. This is done through dissection and visible inspection with the naked eye.

Answer 3

gross anatomy

Question 4

Use of microscopes to enable one to see the minute details of organ parts.

Answer 4

microscopic anatomy

Question 5

Studies the growth and development of an organism during its lifetime.

Answer 5

developmental anatomy

Question 6

Study of the similarities and differences with human organs and those of the animal kingdom.

Answer 6

comparative anatomy

Question 7

Study of the structure of various organs or parts that comprise a particular organ system.

Answer 7

systematic anatomy

Question 8

Front or in front of. The knees are located on the anterior surface of the human body.

Answer 8

anterior or ventral

Question 9

Back or in back of. Human shoulder blades are found on the posterior surface of the body.

Answer 9

posterior or dorsal

Question 10

Toward the “head end” or “tail end”. ______ means “skull” or “head end”. ____ means “tail end”.

Answer 10

cephalic and caudal

Question 11

Above or below another. The heart and lungs are situated superior to the diaphragm, while the intestines are inferior to them.

Answer 11

superior and inferior

Question 12

Toward or away from the midline. The nose is medial to the eyes and the ears are lateral to the nose.

Answer 12

medial and lateral

Question 13

Toward or away from the point of attachment or origin. The wrist is proximal to the hand; the elbow is distal to the shoulder.

Answer 13

proximal and distal

Question 14

On or near the surface or deep inside. A ______ wound involves an injury to the outer skin. A _______ involves damage to an internal organ such as the stomach.

Answer 14

superficial / external and internal

1. superficial
2. deep injury

Question 15

Right and left parts

Answer 15

sagittal plane

Question 16

Equal right and left parts

Answer 16

midsagittal plane

Question 17

Vertical at right angles to the sagittal plane, or front and back parts

Answer 17

coronal (frontal) plane

Question 18

Horizontal; divides body into upper and lower parts

Answer 18

transverse or cross section

Question 19

1. Brain and spinal cord
2. Cranial cavity contains the brain
3. Spinal cavity contains the spine

Answer 19

dorsal cavity

Question 20

Contains the esophagus, bronchi, lungs, trachea, thymus gland and heart.

Answer 20

thoracic cavity

Question 21

1. Abdominal cavity contains the stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, small intestine, appendix, and part of the large intestine.
2. Pelvic cavity contains the urinary bladder, reproductive organs, rectum, the remainder of the large intestine, and the appendix.

Answer 21

abdominopelvic cavity

Question 22

Just below sternum

Answer 22

epigastric region (upper)

Question 23

Just below ribs

Answer 23

right and left hypochondriac

Question 24

Located around the navel

Answer 24

umbilical (middle)

Question 25

Extend from anterior to posterior

Answer 25

right and left lumbar

Question 26

Pubic area

Answer 26

hypogastric (lower)

Question 27

Aka right and left inguinal areas

Answer 27

right and left iliac

Question 28

Eyes, eyeball muscles, optic nerves, and lacrimal (tear) ducts

Answer 28

orbital cavity

Question 29

Parts that form the nose

Answer 29

nasal cavity

Question 30

Teeth and tongue

Answer 30

buccal cavity

Question 31

Muscle system, the ability of the whole organism – or a part of it – to move

Answer 31

movement

Question 32

Digestive system, the process by which an organism takes in food

Answer 32

ingestion

Question 33

Digestive system, the breakdown of complex food molecules into simpler food molecules

Answer 33

digestion

Question 34

Circulatory system, the movement of necessary substances to, into, and around cells, and of cellular products and wastes out of and away from cells

Answer 34

transport

Question 35

Respiratory system, the burning or oxidation of food molecules in a cell to release energy, water, and carbon dioxide

Answer 35

respiration

Question 36

Digestive system

Answer 36

synthesis

Question 37

Digestive system, the transformation of digested food molecules into living tissue for growth and self-repair

Answer 37

assimilation

Question 38

Skeletal system, the enlargement of an organism due to synthesis and assimilation, resulting in an increase in the number and size of its cells

Answer 38

growth

Question 39

Endocrine system, the formation and release of hormones from a cell or structure

Answer 39

secretion

Question 40

Urinary system, the removal of metabolic waste products from an organism

Answer 40

excretion

Question 41

Nervous system, the ability of an organism to respond to its environment so as to maintain a balanced state (homeostasis)

Answer 41

regulation (sensitivity)

Question 42

Reproductive system, the ability of an organism to produce offspring with similar characteristics (This is essential for species as opposed to individual survival)

Answer 42

reproduction

Question 43

The basic unit of structure and function of all living things.

Answer 43

cells

Question 44

Special cells – grouped according to function, shape, size, and structure

Answer 44

tissues

Question 45

Tissues form larger functional and structural units.

Answer 45

organs

Question 46

A grouping of organs together because more than one is needed to perform a function. One example is the digestive system composed of the teeth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine.

Answer 46

organ system

Question 47

Functional activities of the cell that result in growth, repair, 
energy release, use of food, and secretions

Answer 47

metabolism

Question 48

Building up of complex materials from simpler ones such as food and oxygen

Answer 48

anabolism

Question 49

Breaking down and changing of complex substances into simpler ones, with a release of energy and carbon dioxide

Answer 49

catabolism

Question 50

1. Ability of the body to regulate its internal 
environment within narrow limits 2. Essential to survival 3. Works on a negative feedback system 4. Imbalance results in disease

Answer 50

Homeostasis

Question 51

Ana

Answer 51

apart

Question 52

-tom

Answer 52

cutting

Question 53

-y

Answer 53

process of

Question 54

ana/tom/y

Answer 54

process of cutting apart; study of body parts by dissection

Question 55

-ology

Answer 55

study of

Question 56

bio

Answer 56

life

Question 57

physio

Answer 57

nature

Question 58

physi/ology

Answer 58

study of nature or natural function of body

Question 59

ante

Answer 59

in front of

Question 60

anter/ior

Answer 60

in the front

Question 61

poster

Answer 61

behind

Question 62

poster/ior

Answer 62

in back of

Question 63

super

Answer 63

above

Question 64

super/ior

Answer 64

above a part

Question 65

infer

Answer 65

below

Question 66

infer/ior

Answer 66

below a part

Question 67

-al

Answer 67

pertaining to

Question 68

caud

Answer 68

tail

Question 69

caud/al

Answer 69

pertaining to the tail

Question 70

crani

Answer 70

skull

Question 71

crani/al

Answer 71

pertaining to the skull

Question 72

dist

Answer 72

distant

Question 73

dist/al

Answer 73

pertaining to a distant part

Question 74

dors

Answer 74

back

Question 75

dors/al

Answer 75

pertaining to the back

Question 76

later

Answer 76

side

Question 77

later/al

Answer 77

pertaining to the side

Question 78

medi

Answer 78

middle

Question 79

medi/al

Answer 79

pertaining to the middle

Question 80

proxim

Answer 80

near

Question 81

proxim/al

Answer 81

pertaining to the nearness or close

Question 82

ventr

Answer 82

belly, front side

Question 83

ventr/al

Answer 83

pertaining to the belly or front side

Question 84

1. Measurements for length, weight, and 
volume 2. A decimal system 3. Based on the power of ten 4. Uses prefixes such as centi-, milli-, and 
micro- 5. Lengths measured in meters 6. Weights measured in grams 7. Volumes measured in liters

Answer 84

Metric System