Body Orientation & Anatomy Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of 92 vocabulary flashcards covering body orientation, anatomical planes, positional terms, body cavities, serous membranes, abdominal regions/quadrants, and specific body areas.

Anatomical position

Standard reference posture: body standing erect, feet together, arms at sides with palms facing forward and head level.

Axial

Pertaining to the head, neck, and trunk—the body’s central axis.

Appendicular

Pertaining to the limbs and their girdles that attach to the axial skeleton.

Prone

Body lying face-down.

Supine

Body lying face-up.

Frontal (coronal) plane

Vertical plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

Sagittal plane

Vertical plane that divides the body into right and left portions.

Transverse (horizontal) plane

Plane that divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions.

Cross section

A transverse cut across a cylindrical structure such as a limb or intestine.

Longitudinal section

A cut made lengthwise along a cylindrical structure.

Oblique section

A cut made at an angle other than 90° to the long axis of a structure.

Anterior (ventral)

Toward the front of the body.

Bilateral

On both the right and left sides of the midline; paired.

Contralateral

On the opposite side of the body from another structure.

Deep

Farther from the body surface; more internal.

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment to the trunk or farther from a given reference point.

Inferior

Below or toward the feet.

Ipsilateral

On the same side of the body as another structure.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body.

Medial

Toward the midline of the body.

Posterior (dorsal)

Toward the back of the body.

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment to the trunk or closer to a given reference point.

Superficial (peripheral)

Near or at the body surface.

Superior

Above or toward the head.

Abdominal cavity

Body cavity between diaphragm and pelvis housing stomach, liver, spleen, intestines, and other organs.

Abdominopelvic cavity

Continuous cavity formed by the abdominal and pelvic cavities together.

Cranial cavity

Space within the skull that contains the brain.

Diaphragm

Dome-shaped muscle separating the thoracic and abdominal cavities; chief muscle of respiration.

Mediastinum

Central compartment of the thoracic cavity between the lungs containing heart, trachea, esophagus, and major vessels.

Pelvic cavity

Body cavity enclosed by the pelvic bones containing urinary bladder, rectum, and reproductive organs.

Pericardial cavity

Potential space between parietal and visceral pericardium surrounding the heart.

Pleural cavity

Potential space between parietal and visceral pleura surrounding each lung.

Thoracic cavity

Chest cavity located above the diaphragm housing lungs and mediastinum.

Vertebral (spinal) cavity

Canal formed by vertebrae that encloses the spinal cord.

Pericardial membrane

Serous membrane with parietal and visceral layers that surrounds the heart.

Peritoneal membrane

Serous membrane lining the abdominopelvic cavity and covering abdominal organs.

Pleural membrane

Serous membrane with parietal and visceral layers that envelops each lung.

Epigastric region

Upper central abdominal area located just inferior to the sternum over the stomach.

Umbilical region

Central abdominal area surrounding the navel.

Pubic (hypogastric) region

Lower central abdominal area just above the pubic bone.

Hypochondriac regions (left & right)

Upper lateral abdominal areas beneath the costal cartilages of the ribs.

Inguinal (iliac) regions (left & right)

Lower lateral abdominal (groin) areas overlying the iliac bones.

Lateral (lumbar) regions (left & right)

Mid-lateral abdominal areas at the waist level.

Left lower quadrant (LLQ)

Lower-left quarter of the abdomen; contains portions of small intestine, colon, and reproductive organs.

Left upper quadrant (LUQ)

Upper-left quarter of the abdomen; contains stomach, spleen, and part of liver.

Right lower quadrant (RLQ)

Lower-right quarter of the abdomen; contains appendix, cecum, and portions of intestines.

Right upper quadrant (RUQ)

Upper-right quarter of the abdomen; houses majority of liver and gallbladder.

Abdominal

Region between thorax and pelvis.

Acromial

Point of the shoulder.

Antebrachial

Forearm region.

Antecubital

Front (anterior) surface of the elbow.

Axillary

Armpit region.

Brachial

Arm (upper arm) region between shoulder and elbow.

Buccal

Cheek area of the face.

Calcaneal

Heel of the foot.

Carpal

Wrist region.

Celiac

Abdominal area; pertaining to the abdomen in general.

Cephalic

Head region.

Cervical

Neck region.

Costal

Pertaining to the ribs.

Coxal

Hip region.

Crural

Leg region between knee and ankle (shin).

Cubital

Posterior (back) region of the elbow.

Digital

Fingers or toes.

Dorsal

Back surface of the body.

Femoral

Thigh region.

Frontal

Forehead region.

Genital

External reproductive organs region.

Gluteal

Buttock region.

Inguinal

Groin area where the thigh meets the trunk.

Lumbar

Lower back region between ribs and pelvis.

Mammary

Breast region.

Mental

Chin region.

Nasal

Nose region.

Occipital

Posterior aspect of the head (base of skull).

Oral

Mouth region.

Orbital

Eye socket (orbit) region.

Otic

Ear region.

Palmar

Palm of the hand.

Patellar

Front (anterior) surface of the knee.

Pectoral

Anterior chest region.

Pedal

Foot region.

Pelvic

Pelvis region.

Perineal

Area between anus and external genitalia.

Plantar

Sole of the foot.

Popliteal

Back (posterior) of the knee.

Sacral

Posterior region between the hip bones at the base of the spine.

Sternal

Middle of the thorax along the sternum.

Sural

Calf region of the lower leg.

Tarsal

Ankle region.

Umbilical (body location)

Navel area on the anterior abdominal wall.

Vertebral

Spinal column region.