| Term | Definition |
| Abdominal Cavity | Area of the body that contains the stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, small intestine, appendix, and part of the large intestine. |
| Abdominopelvic Cavity | Area below the diaphragm, with no separation between the abdomen and pelvis. |
| Anabolism | |
| Building up of complex materials in metabolism |
| Anatomical position | Body standing erect, face forward, arms at side, and palms forward |
| Anatomy | The study of the structure of an organism |
| Anterior | Front or ventral |
| Biology | The study of all forms of life |
| Buccal cavity | Mouth cavity bounded by the inner surface of the cheek |
| Catabolism | |
| The breaking down and changing of complex materials with the release of energy; a process in metabolism |
| Caudal | Refers to Direction, near the tail end of the body |
| Cell | Basic unit of structure and function of all living things |
| Cephalic | Directional term used to mean toward the head |
| Coronal (frontal) plane | Frontal plane at a right angle to the sagittal plane; divides the body into anterior and posterior segments |
| Cranial cavity | Area of the body containing the brain |
| Cytology | Study of cells |
| Deep | Directional term used to describe an internal organ within the body such as the stomach |
| Dermatology | Study of the physiology and pathology of the skin |
| Disease | Any abnormal changes in the structure and function of an organism that produces systems |
| Distal | Farthest from the point of origin of a structure; opposite of proximal |
| Dorsal | Pertaining to the back |
| Dorsal cavity | Posterior cavity of the body that houses the brain and spinal column |
| Embryology | Study of the formation of an organism from fertilized egg to birth |
| Endocrinology | Study of the physiology and pathology of the hormonal system |
| Epigastric | Upper region of the abdominal cavity, located just below the sternum |
| External | Superficial; at or near the surface of the skin |
| Histology | Microscopic study of living tissues |
| Homeostasis | State of balance; the ability of the healthy body to regulate the internal environment within narrow limits |
| Hypogastric | Lower region of the abdominal area |
| Inferior | Below another or lower |
| Internal | Term used to refer to body cavities and hollow organs; same as deep |
| Lateral | Toward the side |
| Life functions | A series of Highly organized and related activities that allow living organisms to live, grow, and maintain themselves |
| Medial | Directional term, toward midline of the body |
| Metabolism | A functional activities of cells that result in growth, repair, and the release of energy by the cells |
| Metric system | A decimal system based on the power of 10. |
| Midsagittal plane | An imaginary line dividing the body into equal right and left halves |
| Nasal cavity | One of the pair of cavities between the anterior Nares and the nasopharynx |
| Neurology | Study of the physiology and pathology of the nervous system |
| Oral cavity | Encloses the teeth and tongue |
| Orbital cavity | Contains the eye and its external structures |
| Organ system | Organs that are grouped together because more than one is needed to perform a function |
| Organs | Groups of tissues organized according to structure and function |
| Pelvic cavity | Area of the body containing the urinary bladder, reproductive organs, rectum, remainder of the large intestine, and appendix |
| Physiology | Study of the functions of living organisms and their parts |
| Planes | Imaginary, anatomical dividing lines useful and separating body structures |
| Posterior | Located behind or at the back; opposite to anterior |
| Proximal | Located nearest the center of the body; point of attachment of a structure |
| Quadrants | A term used in reference to the abdominal area by dividing it into four areas, or quadrants |
| Sagittal plane | Directional term that divides the body into left and right parts |
| Section | A cut made through the body in direction of a certain plane |
| Spinal cavity | Area of the body containing the spinal cord |
| Superficial | On or near the surface of the body |
| Superior | In anatomy, higher; denoting upper of two parts, toward vertex |
| Thoracic cavity | Area of the body divided into two cavities; the left pleural cavity contains the left lung and the right pleural cavity contains the right lung |
| Tissues | Cells grouped according to size, shape, and functions; epithelial, connective, muscle, and nerve tissues are examples |
| Transverse | Crosswise; at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the body |
| Umbilical | Area located around the navel; the right and left lumbar region |
| Umbilicus | Navel |
| Ventral | Front or anterior; opposite of posterior or dorsal |
