Body Planes
Not a body plane, but instead describes the body standing in the standard position, straight so that the body is erect and facing forward, arms at the sides with the palms facing toward the front:
anatomical position
Above or toward the head:
*Hint: Not cephalic
superior
Front:
*Hint: Not ventral
anterior
The basic structural and functional units of the body:
cells
Also known as the chest cavity, surrounds and protects the heart and lungs:
thoracic cavity
A vertical plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior portions. Also known as the coronal plane:
frontal plane
Below or toward the feet:
*Hint: Not caudal
inferior
Back:
*Hint: Not dorsal
posterior
Also known as a hereditary disease, caused by an absent or defective gene:
genetic disorder
The study of disease:
pathology
Divides the body into equal left and right halves:
midsagittal plane
The back of the organ or body:
*Hint: Not posterior
dorsal
Means toward the head:
*Hint: Not superior
cephalic
Tissue that surrounds and protects the contents of a cell from the external environment:
cell membrane
Outbreak of a disease occurring over a large geographic area, possibly worldwide:
pandemic
A vertical plane that divides the body into unequal left and right portions:
Toward the midline:
medial
Farthest from the midline:
distal
Cell organelle that generates energy for the cell, also known as the "powerhouse" of the cell:
mitochondria
The study of the causes of diseases or abnormal conditions:
etiology
A horizontal plane that divides the body into superior and inferior portions:
transverse plane
Toward the side of the body, away from the midline:
lateral
Nearest the midline:
proximal
Cell organelle that serves as the "brain", has DNA, and helps the cell divide:
nucleus
The processes through which the body maintains a constant internal environment:
homeostasis