Anatomical Directional, Positional, and Medical Word Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical directional and positional terms, general anatomy concepts, and medical word building blocks based on lecture transcript notes.

Distal

Farther away from the torso.

Dorsal

Referring to the back of the body or the back of the hand or foot. A synonym for posterior.

Fowler position

A sitting position.

Inferior

Away from the head, usually compared with another structure that is closer to the head (e.g., the lips are inferior to the nose).

Lateral

To the side, away from the midline of the body.

Medial

Toward the midline of the body.

Midaxillary line

A line drawn vertically from the middle of the armpit to the ankle.

Midclavicular line

The line through the center of each clavicle.

Midline

An imaginary line drawn down the center of the body, dividing it into right and left halves.

Palmar

Referring to the palm of the hand.

Plantar

Referring to the sole of the foot.

Posterior

The back of the body or body part.

Prone

Lying facedown.

Proximal

Closer to the torso.

Recovery position

Lying on the side. Also called lateral recumbent position.

Superior

Toward the head (e.g., the chest is superior to the abdomen).

Supine

Lying on the back.

Unilateral

Limited to one side.

Ventral

Referring to the front of the body. A synonym for anterior.

Physiology

The study of body function.

Plane

A flat surface formed when slicing through a solid object.

Torso

The trunk of the body, or the body without the head and the extremities.

Prefix

Word part added to the beginning of a root or word to modify or qualify its meaning (e.g., adding bi- to lateral forms bilateral).

Root

Foundation of a word that is not a word that can stand on its own (e.g., the root cardi, meaning "heart," in words such as cardiac and cardiology).

Suffix

Word part added to the end of a root or word to complete its meaning (e.g., adding -itis to the root laryng forms laryngitis).