anatomy terms

Anatomical position

body upright, feet together, head and toes forward, arms at side with palms facing outward

sagittal plane

cut in half left and right

forntal/lateral

cut body front and half

transverse/horizontal

cut body into upper and lower parts

coronal plane

cut brain into front and back

anterior

front

posterior

back

superior

up (cranial)

inferior

lower towards feet (caudal)

lateral

position farther away from the middle or midline

medial

towards midline

superficial

a structure is located closer to the surface of the body

deep

a structure is located farther away from surface

distal

away from or farthest from the trunk or the point or origin of a part

proximal

towards or nearest the trunk or the point of origin

transverse section

perpendicular alignment

cross section

done not in the preferred direction

anterior cavity

larger and separated into 2 distinct cavities by a dome-shaped muscle (diaphragm)

posterior cavities

one long continuous cavity that is located on the back of the body, divided into two section

thoracic cavity

located in the chest, contains the heart, lungs, and the large blood vessel

abdominal cavity

divided into upper and lower parts. Upper part contain the stomach, small intestines, most of the large intestines, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen.

pelvic cavity

lower abdominal cavity containing urinary bladder, the reproductive organs, and the last part of the large intestine.

cranial cavity

contains the brain

spinal cavity

contains the spinal chord

right upper quadrant

liver, colon, pancreas, gallbladder

right lower quadrant

colon, sm intestine, major artery and vein to the right leg, ureter, appendix

left upper quadrant

liver, spleen, stomach, colon, pancreas

left lower quadrant

colon, small intestine, major artery and vein to the left leg, ureter

cranial

skull

facial

face

nasal

nose

occular/orbital

eye

otic

ear

buccal

cheek

oral

mouth

cervical

neck

thorasic

thorax/chest

mammary

breast

axillary

armpit

brachial

arm

antecubital

front of elbow

antebrachial

forearm

carpal

wrist

manual

hand

plamar

palm

pollex

thumb

abdominal

abdomen

umbilical

naval (bellybutton)

pelvic

pelvis

inguinal

groin

pubic

pubis

femoral

thigh

patellar

kneecap

crural

leg

tarsal

ankle

pedal

foot

digital

toes

hallux

great toe

acromial

shoulder

dorsal

back

olecranal

back of elbow

lumbar

loin

gluteal

buttox

popliteal

back of knee

sural

calf

calcaneal

heel of foot

planar

sole of foot