A young researcher is responsible for graphing laboratory data involving pulmonary blood flow and ventilation pattern obtained from a healthy volunteer who was standing in an upright position. After plotting the following graph, the researcher realizes he forgot to label the curves and the x-axis (which represents the position in the lung). Which of the following is the appropriate label for each point on the graph?

A: Ventilation B: Blood flow C: Base of the lung D: Apex of the lung

A: Ventilation B: Blood flow C: Mid-portion of the lung D: Apex of the lung

A: Dead Space B: Shunt C: Base of the lung D: Apex of the lung

A: Blood flow B: Ventilation C: Base of the lung D: Lung hilum

A: Blood flow B: Ventilation C: Apex of the lung D: Lung hilum

Identify the labeled structures correctly in the axial CT image of the thorax

A - Ascending aorta, B - Pulmonary trunk, C - Superior vena cava, D - Descending aorta

A - Pulmonary trunk, B - Ascending aorta, C - Superior vena cava, D - Descending aorta

A - Superior vena cava, B - Pulmonary trunk, C - Ascending aorta, D - Descending aorta

A - Ascending aorta, B - Superior vena cava, C - Pulmonary trunk, D - Descending aorta

A - Pulmonary trunk, B - Superior vena cava, C - Ascending aorta, D - Descending aorta

Anatomical terminology and positions for USMLE Step 2 CK: High-Yield Anatomy Lessons

Anatomical Planes & Axes - Slicing and Dicing

Planes are imaginary flat surfaces passing through the body. Axes are lines around which movement occurs. 📌 Mnemonic: Sagittal (Side view), Coronal (Crown view), Transverse (Top-down view).

Plane	Division	Axis	Movement
Sagittal	Divides body into left & right parts. Midsagittal is midline.	Transverse (horizontal)	Flexion / Extension
Coronal (Frontal)	Divides body into anterior (front) & posterior (back).	Anteroposterior	Abduction / Adduction
Transverse (Axial)	Divides body into superior (upper) & inferior (lower).	Longitudinal (vertical)	Rotation

Directional Terms - What's Up, Doc?

Anatomical planes and directional terms on human figure

📌 Mnemonic: Think of a car's Superior (roof), Inferior (chassis), Posterior (trunk), and Anterior (engine) - SIPA.

Term	Meaning (Toward...)	Contrast
Superior (Cranial)	The head	Inferior (Caudal)
Inferior (Caudal)	The feet / tail	Superior (Cranial)
Anterior (Ventral)	The front	Posterior (Dorsal)
Posterior (Dorsal)	The back	Anterior (Ventral)
Medial	The midline	Lateral
Lateral	The side	Medial
Proximal	The trunk / origin	Distal
Distal	Away from trunk / origin	Proximal
Superficial	The surface	Deep
Deep	Away from the surface	Superficial
Ipsilateral	Same side of body	Contralateral
Contralateral	Opposite side of body	Ipsilateral

Body Positions & Movements - The Body Electric

Anatomical Position: Erect, feet forward, arms at sides, palms anterior, thumbs lateral.
Body:
- Supine: Lying on back (face up).
- Prone: Lying on stomach (face down).
General Movements:
- Flexion/Extension: Decreases/increases joint angle.
- Abduction/Adduction: Away from/towards midline.
- Rotation: Medial (internal) or Lateral (external).
- Circumduction: Circular motion combining the above.
Special Movements:
- Forearm: Supination (palm up; 📌 "holding soup"), Pronation (palm down).
- Foot: Dorsiflexion (foot up), Plantarflexion (foot down), Inversion (sole medial), Eversion (sole lateral).
- Scapula/Jaw: Protraction/Retraction, Elevation/Depression.

Types of Body Movements: Flexion, Extension, Rotation

⭐ Winged Scapula: Injury to the Long Thoracic Nerve (C5-C7) paralyzes the Serratus Anterior muscle. This causes the medial border of the scapula to protrude posteriorly, especially when the patient pushes against a wall.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

Anatomical position is the universal standard reference: body erect, feet parallel, eyes forward, and palms supinated (facing anteriorly).

The coronal (frontal) plane divides the body into anterior and posterior parts.

The sagittal plane creates left and right portions; a midsagittal cut is perfectly midline.

The transverse (axial) plane produces superior and inferior views, essential for interpreting CT and MRI scans.

Supination of the forearm turns the palm anteriorly; pronation turns it posteriorly.

Proximal refers to being closer to the trunk, while distal means farther away.

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