Anatomical Terms

Superior

Above

Inferior

Below

Anterior (ventral)

Toward the front

Posterior (dorsal)

Toward the back

Medial

Toward or at the midline of the body

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body

Proximal

Closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment to the trunk

Distal

Farther from the origin of the body part or the point of attachment to the trunk

Superficial

Near the surface

Deep

Away from the surface, more internal

Sagittal

Divides right and left

Transverse (horizontal)

Divides superior and inferior

Frontal (coronal)

Divides anterior and posterior

Gluteal

Buttocks, posterior of the pelvis

Lumbar

Lower back, below rib cage, above pelvis

Mammary

Breasts, anterior chest wall

Nasal

Behind nose

Oral

Below nasal cavities

Palmar

Palm of hand or front/flexor/ventral side of hand

Pectoral

Upper anterior chest wall

Pelvic

Lower part of the body trunk

Plantar

Bottom or sole of the foot

Sacral

Base of lumbar vertebrae

Sural

Posterior & lateral aspects of lower leg and ankle

Umbilical

Midline of abdomen

Mental

Chin, front & center of lower jaw

Occipital

Lower & back part of the skull

Orbital

Forms eye sockets

Patellar

Kneecap, front of knee joint

Pedal

Distal philanges

Perineal

Anterior uro-genital triangle, posterior anal triangle

Popliteal

Behind knee

Sternal

Breastbone, center of chest, anterior portion of ribcage

Tarsal

Seven irregularly shaped bones, hindfoot & midfoot

Vertebral

Spine, 33 vertebrae, cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, coccygeal

Genital

Pelvic region

Inguinal

Lower wall, where abdomen wall meets thigh

Acromial

Part of scapula, highest part of shoulder

Antecubital

Anterior elbow, between forearm and arm

Brachial

Upper limb between shoulder & elbow, contains humerous

Calcaneal

Hindfoot region, inferior to talus bone

Celiac

Upper abdomen, just below diaphragm

Cervical

Just below the skull & above thoracic spine

Coxal

Forms pelvic girdle back & pubis of opposite hip bone at the front

Dorsal

Posterior, opposite of ventral

Frontal

Front of head, forehead

Abdominal

Between chest & pelvis

Antebrachial

Forearm, from elbow to wrist

Axillary

Between chest wall & upper arm

Buccal

Inside of cheek, lining of the lips

Carpal

Between forearm bones & hand’s metacarpal bones

Cephalic

Head, superior

Crural

Lower leg, between knee & ankle

Digital

Phalanges, fingers, thumbs, toes, big toes

Femoral

Thigh, from hip to knee

Cubital

Front of elbow, arm meets forearm