1A Anatomical Terms

Anatomical position (reference position)

Standing upright facing forward

arms at side with palms facing forward

feet flat and forward

Frontal (coronal) plane

Divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts

rotates about the sagittal axis

Sagittal plane

Divides the body into left and right portions either symmetrically (median sagittal) or unsymmetrically (parasagittal)

about the frontal/coronal axis

Median sagittal plane

Divides the body into equal left and right halves

Parasagittal plane

Divides the body into unequal left and right portions

Transverse (horizontal, axial) plane

Divides the body into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) portions

about the longitudinal (vertical) axis

Sagittal axis

Runs anterior to posterior

Frontal axis

Runs medial to lateral

arrows moves away from the midline of the body

Longitudinal axis

Runs superior to inferior

Plane axis relationship

Movement occurs in planes and about axes

Longitudinal (saggital) section

Section cut lengthwise

goes front to back so that the body is divided into left and right

anteromedial view

Transverse section

Section cut horizontally across

divides the body into superior and inferior parts

cross-section of bone, muscles and vessels

anterior view

Oblique section

Section is being cut at an angle

doesn’t follow standard anatomical planes

anteromedial view

Anterior

Toward the front

Posterior

Toward the back

Ventral

Toward the front of the body

Dorsal

Toward the back of the body

Superior

Higher up

Inferior

lower down

Cranial

Toward the head

Caudal

Toward the tail or feet

Medial

Toward the midline

Lateral

Away from the midline

Proximal

Closer to the trunk

Distal

Farther from the trunk

Superficial

Closer to the surface

Deep

Farther from the surface

Internal

Inside

External

Outside

Central

Toward the center

Peripheral

Toward the edges

Bilateral

On both sides

Unilateral

On one side

Ipsilateral

On the same side

Contralateral

On the opposite side

Palmar

Palm side of the hand

Dorsal hand

Back of the hand

Plantar

Sole of the foot

Dorsal foot

Top of the foot

Basal

Toward the base

Apical

Toward the tip

Cranial cavity

Contains the brain

Thoracic cavity

Contains the lungs and heart

Pulmonary space

Space containing a lung

Mediastinum

Central compartment of the thoracic cavity

Diaphragm

Muscle separating thoracic and abdominal cavities

Abdominopelvic cavity

Contains abdominal and pelvic organs

Abdominal cavity

Superior portion of the abdominopelvic cavity

Pelvic cavity

Inferior portion of the abdominopelvic cavity

Right hypochondriac region

Upper right abdominal region

Epigastric region

Upper central abdominal region

Left hypochondriac region

Upper left abdominal region

Right lumbar region

Middle right abdominal region

Umbilical region

Central abdominal region

Left lumbar region

Middle left abdominal region

Right inguinal region

Lower right abdominal region

Pubic region

Lower central abdominal region

Left inguinal region

Lower left abdominal region

Midclavicular line

Vertical reference line through the clavicle

Subcostal line

Horizontal reference line at vertebral level L1

Transtubercular line

Horizontal reference line at vertebral level L5

Deltoid region

Shoulder

Axillary region

Armpit

Arm

Region between shoulder and elbow

Cubital fossa

Anterior elbow

Forearm

Region between elbow and wrist

Carpal region

Wrist

Palmar hand

Palm side of the hand

Dorsal hand

Back side of the hand

Scapular region

Upper back

Gluteal region

Hip or buttock

Thigh

Region between hip and knee

Knee

Joint between thigh and leg

Popliteal fossa

Posterior knee

Leg

Region between knee and ankle

Ankle

Joint between leg and foot

Dorsal foot

Top of the foot

Plantar foot

Sole of the foot

Abduction

Movement away from the midline

Adduction

Movement toward the midline

Lateral flexion

Side bending of the trunk or neck

Inversion

Sole of the foot turns inward

Eversion

Sole of the foot turns outward

Scapular movement

Movement of the shoulder blades

Flexion

Decrease in joint angle

Extension

Increase in joint angle

Dorsiflexion

Foot moves upward

Plantarflexion

Foot moves downward

Rotation

Movement around a longitudinal axis

Medial rotation

Rotation toward the midline

Lateral rotation

Rotation away from the midline

Protraction

Forward movement

Retraction

Backward movement

Circumduction

Combination of flexion extension abduction and adduction

Opposition

Thumb moves to contact fingers

Reposition

Thumb returns to anatomical position

Compound movement

Movement produced by multiple muscle groups working together