Dental Anatomy Key Terms

Question 1

Def - Gross Anatomy

Answer 1

Structures that we can see without the aid of a microscope e.g. muscles

Question 2

Def - Microscopic Anatomy/ Histology

Answer 2

The study of cells and tissues using a microscope

Question 3

Def- Anatomical Position

Answer 3

The standard reference position of the body used to describe the location of structures. Position where the body is standing upright with feet together hand by the side (palms facing the front) and face looking forward

Question 4

Def - Anatomical Planes

Answer 4

3 major groups of planes which divide the anatomical position

Question 4

Coronal Planes

Answer 4

Vertical plane which divides the body into anterior and posterior parts (splits the front and back of the body)

Question 5

Sagittal Planes/ Median sagittal plane

Answer 5

Vertical plane perpendicular to the coronal plane which passes through the center of the body dividing it into equal right and left halves

Question 6

Transverse, horizontal or axial planes

Answer 6

Horizontal plane which dives the body into superior and inferior parts (top and bottom)

Question 7

Anterior (or ventral)

Answer 7

before, Infront e.g. the nose is an anterior (ventral) structure. Also the nose is anterior to the ears

Question 8

Posterior (or dorsal)

Answer 8

after, behind e.g. the vertebral column is a posterior (dorsal) structure and the vertebral column is posterior to the sternum

Question 9

Medial

Answer 9

middle; hence nearer the median plane e.g. the nose is in the median sagittal plane and is medial to the eyes, which are in turn medial to the external ears

Question 10

Lateral

Answer 10

side, hence, nearer the side e.g. the thumb is lateral to the little finger

Question 11

Superior

Answer 11

above e.g. the head is superior to the shoulders

Question 12

Inferior

Answer 12

below e.g. the knee joint is inferior to the hip joint

Question 13

Proximal

Answer 13

nearest, nearer to the root of a limb e.g. the glenohumeral joint is proximal to the elbow joint

Question 14

Distal

Answer 14

implying farther from a given point e.g. the hand is distal to the elbow joint

Question 15

Cranial

Answer 15

toward the head - sometimes used instead of the term superior

Question 16

Caudal

Answer 16

towards the tail - sometimes used instead of inferior

Question 17

Rostral

Answer 17

used particularly in the head - describes the position of a structure with reference to the nose e.g. the forebrain is rostral to the hindbrain

Question 18

Superficial

Answer 18

above, nearer the surface

Question 19

Deep

Answer 19

further from the surface