Introductory Concepts

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Anatomy › Introductory Concepts

Questions 1 - 10
1

Rectus, transverse, oblique and orbicularis are terms related to naming which characteristic of muscle features?

Direction of fascicles

Size

Location

Shape

Origin and insertion

Explanation

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)
2

Rectus, transverse, oblique and orbicularis are terms related to naming which characteristic of muscle features?

Direction of fascicles

Size

Location

Shape

Origin and insertion

Explanation

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)
3

Which of the following anatomical terms describes a hole through a bone?

Foramen

Fossa

Sinus

Condyle

Tubercle

Explanation

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.

4

Which of the following anatomical terms describes a hole through a bone?

Foramen

Fossa

Sinus

Condyle

Tubercle

Explanation

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.

5

This imaginary line divides the body into symmetrical halves.

Midsagittal plane

Transverse plane

Frontal plane

Bilateral plane

Horizontal plane

Explanation

The midsagittal plane or the median plane divides the body vertically into two symmetrical halves. It runs from the top of the head straight down the face, between the eyes, down the nose and through the naval. The horizontal or transverse plane divides the body into superior and inferior halves. The frontal plane divides the body in half between the anterior and posterior sides. It is sometimes called the coronal plane.

6

Which of the following orientation pairs are not opposites of one another?

Proximal and lateral

Superior and inferior

Anterior and posterior

Superficial and deep

Explanation

Terms used to describe the orientation of a structure commonly have a word that means the opposite so they can be related to one another. Proximal means that the structure is closer to a point of attachment, while lateral refers to a structure being away from the middle of the body. The opposing term for proximal is distal, meaning away from the point of attachment, and the opposing term for lateral is medial, meaning toward the center line.

Superior indicates above, while inferior indicates below. Anterior refers to the front, while posterior refers to the back. Superficial indicates that a structure is near the surface, while deep indicates that it is under other structures.

7

In anatomical position, the hand is which to the shoulder?

Distal

Proximal

Flexed

Internally rotated

Superior

Explanation

Anatomical position is the position with the body erect with arms at the sides and the palms forward. Distal is defined as situated away from the center of the body or from the point of attachment. Proximal describes a structure situated nearer to the center of the body or the point of attachment. Superior describes a structure situated nearer the vertex of the head in relation to the specific reference point; it is the opposite of inferior.

8

A transverse section separates the body into which of the following orientations?

Superior and inferior

Left and right

Medial and sagittal

Anterior and posterior

Legs and torso

Explanation

A transverse slice is the only view to section the body through the horizontal plane. The result is a superior region (above the cut) and an inferior region (below the cut). A transverse section of the brain is usually used to show the lentiform nucleus (consisting of the globus pallidus and putamen) and the caudate.

A coronal section runs from right to left across the body, dividing it into an anterior (ventral) portion and posterior (dorsal) portion.

A sagittal slice runs from anterior to posterior, dividing the body into left and right regions. A perfectly centered sagittal slice is called a medial sagittal section.

9

What does "lateral" mean in directional anatomy?

Away from the midline of the body

Attached to the midline of the body

In between the midline and the dermis

Close to the latissimus dorsi muscle

Away from the latissimus dorsi muscle

Explanation

Lateral is a general directional that can be applied to objects farther from the midline of the body. The midline is defined as the medial sagittal plane, generally including the navel and nose. Structures such as the shoulders, ears, and hips are considered lateral. When used in relative terms, we can say that the lungs are lateral to the heart and the ovaries are lateral to the uterus. In contrast, the opposite term of lateral is medial; the heart is medial to the lungs and the uterus is medial to the ovaries.

The latissimus dorsi muscles are located on both sides of the spine, and their name is directionally descriptive. They have no bearing on directional terms, unless used as reference points. Anatomical structures attached to the midline could be described as lateral, but only if they deviate farther left or right from the midline. A structure can be attached to the midline, but run completely vertical in the medial sagittal plane.

10

If an individual has a blood pH of 6.8, then they should __________.

breathe faster to remove excess CO2

breathe faster to intake excess O2

breathe slower to minimize loss of CO2

breathe slower to maximize use of O2

eat more acidic foods

Explanation

Normal blood pH is about 7.4 in most tissues (it is a bit lower in veins since they carry waste products, which are acidic). To get back to the physiological set point of pH = 7.4, we want to remove the acid from the blood. The major blood buffer system is shown in the following equation:

As we know, carbon dioxide is one of the major byproducts of respiration, and is considered waste for our bodies. Combined with water and catalyzed by carbonic anhydrase, it is converted into carbonic acid. Carbonic acid is a weak acid and will partially dissociate into hydrogen ions and bicarbonate ions. Thus, overall, carbon dioxide and water yields acid (hydrogen ions). As a result, excess carbon dioxide in the blood will lower the pH.

In order to increase the pH, we must stop this equation from proceeding in the forward direction; thus, (remember Le Chatelier's principle) we must remove carbon dioxide from the left side. This will push the reaction in the reverse direction, quenching hydrogen ions (acid) and removing them from the blood, increasing blood pH back to normal.

Since we want to get rid of excess carbon dioxide, we breathe faster. Oxygen does not have any effect on blood pH. Furthermore, the atmospheric oxygen level (21%) is plenty for our bodies to utilize, as when we exhale there is about 15% oxygen left over, meaning we only use about 25% of the oxygen we breathe (this is why CPR works!).

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