Anatomical Terminology

Anatomical Position

Anatomical Position

–Stand and facing observer

–Head level and eyes forward

–Feet flat on floor and directed forward

–Upper limbs at sides with palms turned forward

Prone

Lying face down

Supine

Lying face up

Major regions: Head

Skull and face

Major regions: Neck

supports and attaches heads to trunk

Major regions: Trunk

chest, abdomen, and pelvis

Major regions: Upper Limb

shoulder, armpit, arm, forearm, wrist, and hand

Major regions: Lower limb

buttock, thigh, leg, ankle, and foot

Cephalic

Head

Cranial

skull

Facial

face

Frontal

forehead

Temporal

temple

Occipital

base of skull

Orbital

eye

Otic

ear

Buccal

cheek

Nasal

Nose

Oral

Mouth

Mental

chin

Thoracic

chest

Sternal

breastbone

Mammary

breast

Axillary

armpit

Abdominal

Abdomen

Umbilical

bellybutton

Coxal

hip

Pelvic

Pelvis

Inguinal

groin

Pubic

genital region

Scapular

shoulder blad

Vertebral

spinal column

Lumbar

low back/loin

Sacral

between hips (sacrum)

Gluteal

buttock

Perineal

between anus and external genitals

Acromial

point of shoulder

Brachial

arm

Antecubital

anterior elbow

Olecranal/cubital

back of elbow

Antebrachial

forearm

Carpal

wrist

Palmar

palm

Manual/manus

hand

Digital/phalangeal

fingers or toes

Pollex

thumb

Coxal

hip

Fermoral

thigh

Patellar

Anterior knee

Popliteal

back of knee

Crural

anterior leg

Sural

calf

Fibular/peroneal

side of leg

Tarsal

ankle

Calcaneal

heel

Plantar

sole

Hallux

great toe

Superior

above, towards head

Inferior

below, towards feet

Anterior

towards the front, in front of

Posterior

towards the back, behind

Medial

towards the middle or center

Lateral

away from the middle or center

Intermediate

between two structures

Ipsilateral

on the same side of the body

Contralateral

on the opposite side of the body

Proximal

toward the trunk

Distal

away from the trunk

Deep

away from the surface of the body

Superficial

closer to the surface of the body

Sagittal plane

lengthwise, divides body into right and left parts

Midsagittal plane

sagittal plane through midline

Parasagittal plane

sagittal plan dividing unequal right and left parts

Frontal/coronal plane

divides body into anterior and posterior portions

Transverse/horizontal plane

crosswise, divides body into superior and inferior sections

Oblique plane

passes through body at an angle

How is the abdominopelvic area divided? (Quadrants)

divided by a medial line and transumbilical line

• right upper

• left upper

• right lower

• left lower

Umbilicus: point for vertical and horizontal line

How is the abdominopelvic area divided? (Regions)

Divided by 4 lines: midclavicular lines, subcostal line, transtubercular line

Name the abdominopelvic regions

hypo-

under/below

epi-

upon

lumbar

low back

inguinal

groin

illiac

pelvic flair

What organs are in the epigastric region?

liver, majority of the stomach, duodenum, pancreas, adrenal glands

What organs are in the right hypochondriac region?

liver, gall bladder, right kidney

What organs are in the left hypochondriac region?

stomach, spleen, left kidney, tail of the pancreas

What organs are in the umbilical region?

transverse colon, small intestine, kidneys, abdominal aorta, inferior vena cava

What organs are in the right lumbar (loin) region?

cecum, ascending colon, right kidney, small intestine

What organs are in the left lumbar (loin) region?

descending colon, left kidney, small intestine

What organs are in the hypogastric (pubic) region?

urinary bladder, small intestine, sigmoid colon

What organs are in the right iliac region?

cecum, appendix, small intestine

What organs are in the left iliac region?

sigmoid parts of colon, small intestine

Dorsal cavity

cranial cavity and vertebral cavity

Ventral cavity

thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity

Viscera

organs of the thoracic and abdominal pelvic cavities

Serous membrane

a thin, slippery membrane that covers the viscera

Parts of the serous membrane

1. Parietal layer: lines the wall of the cavities

2. Visceral layer: covers the viscera within the cavities

3. Serous fluid lubricating fluid, side of layers

Pleura

serous membrane of the pleural cavities

Visceral pleura

clings to the surface of lungs