The Language of Anatomy

▪ Special terminology is used to prevent

misunderstanding

▪ Exact terms are used for:

▪ Position ▪ Direction

▪ Regions ▪ Structures

▪ Anatomical position
▪ Medial: toward or at the midline of the body; on\ the
▪ Standard body position used to avoid confusion inner side of

▪ Terminology refers to this position regardless of ▪ Lateral: away from the midline of the body; on the
actual body position
outer side of
▪ Stand erect, feet parallel, arms hanging at the sides
▪ Intermediate: between a more medial and a more
with palms facing forward and thumbs pointing away
lateral structure
from the body
▪ Proximal: close to the origin of the body part or

point of attachment to a limb to the body trunk

▪ Distal: farther from the origin of a body part or the

point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

Directional Terms
▪ Superficial (external): toward or at the body
▪ Directional terms
surface
▪ Explain location of one body structure in relation to
▪ Deep (internal): away from the body surface;
Another
more internal
▪ Superior (cranial or cephalic): toward the head or

upper part of a structure or the body; above

▪ Inferior (caudal): away from the head or toward

the lower part of a structure or the body; below

REGIONSL TERM
▪ Anterior (ventral): toward or at the front of the
▪ Anterior (ventral) body landmarks
body; in front of

▪ Posterior (dorsal): toward or at the backside of

the body; behind

 Buccal: The cheek.

Carpal: The wrist.

Cervical: The neck region.

Manus (hand)

Digital: The fingers or toes.

LOWER LIMBS Coxal: The hip.

Deltoid: The roundness of the shoulder caused by

The underlying deltoid muscle.

Digital: The fingers or toes.

Femoral: The thigh.

Patellar: The anterior knee (kneecap) region.

Crural: leg

Fibular: The side of the leg.

Inguinal: The groin.

Anterior
Pedal (foot)
Anterior, cephalic
Tarsal: The ankle.
Frontal : forehead
Dorsal: back
Orbital: The bony eye socket (orbit).
Mammary: The breast.
Nasal: The nose
Manus: The hand.
Buccal: The cheek.
Nasal: The nose
Oral: The mouth.
Oral: The mouth.
Mental: chin
Orbital: The bony eye socket (orbit).
Cervical: The neck region.
Patellar: The anterior knee (kneecap) region.
Thoracic
Pelvic: The pelvis region.
Sternal:
Pubic: The genital region.
Axillary: The armpit.
Sternal: The region of the breastbone.
Pectoral: occurring in on the chest
Tarsal: The ankle.
Abdominal: The anterior body trunk region inferior to
Thoracic: The chest.
the ribs.
Umbilical: The navel.
Umbilical: The navel.

Pelvic: The pelvis region.

Inguinal: The groin.

Pubic: The genital region.

Upper limb

Acromial: point of shoulder

Deltoid: The roundness of the shoulder caused by

The underlying deltoid muscle.

Brachial: The arm.

Antecubital: The anterior surface/front of the elbow.

Antebrachial: forearm

Axillary: The armpit.

Brachial: The arm.

 Vertebral: The area of the spinal column.

Posterior (dorsal) body landmarks Body Orientation

Body Planes and Sections

▪ Sections are cuts along imaginary lines known as

Planes ▪ Three types of planes or sections exist as right

angles to one another

▪ A sagittal section divides the body (or organ) into

left and right parts

▪ A median, or midsagittal, section divides the body

(or organ) into equal left and right parts

▪ A frontal, or coronal, section divides the body (or

organ) into anterior and posterior parts

Posterior Upper limb ▪ A transverse, or cross, section divides the body

Acromial: point of shoulder olecranal : elbow (or organ) into superior and inferior parts

Popliteal: The back of the knee.

Sural: The calf or posterior surface of the leg.

Calcaneal: heel

Plantar: sole of foot

Cephalic: The head.

Occipital: The posterior aspect of the head or base of

the skull. (back of the head)

Scapular: The scapula or shoulder blade area.

Vertebral: The area of the spinal column.

Lumbar: The area of the back between the ribs and

hips;the loin.

Sacral: The area between the hips.

Gluteal: The buttocks, or rump.

Femoral: The thigh. ▪ Two internal body cavities

Fibular: The side of the leg. ▪ Dorsal ▪ Ventral
Gluteal: The buttocks, or rump. ▪ Body cavities provide varying degrees of
Lumbar: The area of the back between the ribs and protection to organs within them
hips;the loin.

Occipital: The posterior aspect of the head or base of

the skull.

Popliteal: The back of the knee.

Sacral: The area between the hips.

Scapular: The scapula or shoulder blade area.

Sural: The calf or posterior surface of the leg.

 trachea, and other organs

▪ Protected by the rib cage

▪ Abdominopelvic cavity

▪ Cavity inferior to the diaphragm

▪ Superior abdominal cavity contains the stomach, liver,

and other organs

▪ Protected only by trunk muscles

▪ Inferior pelvic cavity contains reproductive organs,

bladder, and rectum

▪ Protected somewhat by bony pelvis

▪ No physical structure separates abdominal from pelvic

Cavities

▪ Dorsal body cavity has two subdivisions ▪ Abdominopelvic cavity subdivisions

1. Cranial cavity ▪ Four quadrants

▪ Houses the brain ▪ Nine regions

▪ Protected by the skull

2. Spinal cavity

▪ Houses the spinal cord

▪ Protected by the vertebrae

▪ Ventral body cavity has two subdivisions

separated by the diaphragm

1. Thoracic cavity

2. Abdominopelvic cavity

▪ Thoracic cavity

▪ Cavity superior to the diaphragm

▪ Houses heart, lungs, and other organs

▪ Mediastinum, the central region, houses heart,

 Lumbar regions: Between the ribs and the
flaring portions of the hip bones; lateral to
the umbilical region.
Hypochondriac regions: Flanking the
epigastric region laterally and overlying the
lower ribs.

Other body cavities include:

▪ Oral and digestive cavities
▪ Nasal cavity
▪ Orbital cavities
▪ Middle ear cavities

Umbilical region: The centermost region,

which includes the umbilicus
Epigastric region: Immediately superior to
the umbilical region; overlies most of the
stomach.
Hypogastric (pubic) region: Immediately
inferior to the umbilical region;
encompasses the pubic area.
Iliac (inguinal) regions: Lateral to the
hypogastric region and overlying the
superior parts of the hip bones.