Anatomy Terms

abdomin/o

abdomen

anter/o

front (side of body)

brachi/o

arm

caud/o

tail

cephal/o

head

cervic/o

neck

chondr/o

cartilage

crani/o

skull

cubit/o

elbow

dist/o

away from (beginning of structure)

dors/o

back (side of body)

femor/o

femur (thigh bone)

gastr/o

stomach

genit/o

genital

glute/o

buttocks

ili/o

ilium (part of pelvis)

infer/o

below

inguin/o

groin

later/o

side

lumb/o

low back

medi/o

middle

nas/o

nose

or/o

mouth

orbit/o

eye socket

ot/o

ear

patell/o

patella (kneecap)

pelv/o

velvis

poster/o

back (side of body)

proxim/o

near to (beginning of structure)

scapul/o

scapula (shoulder blade)

spin/o

spine

stern/o

sternum (breast bone)

super/o

abover

thorac/o

chest

ventr/o

belly

vertebr/o

vertebra (backbone)

frontal

sagittal

transverse

Anterior

pertaining to the front of the body

Posterior

pertaining to the back of the body

cephalic

pertaining to the head

caudal

pertaining to the tail

dorsal

pertaining to back (side of body)

ventral

pertaining to belly (side of body)

Superior

pertaining to above

inferior

pertaining to below

lateral

pertaining to the side (away from midline)

medial

pertaining to the middle (toward the midline)

proximal

pertaining to near to (near to the trunk of the body)

distal

pertaining to away from (away from the trunk)

Deep

further below the surface

superficial

nearer to the surface

prone

lie face down

supine

lie face up

Axillary

armpit

Palmar

palm of the hand

lower extremity

refers to entire leg

upper extremity

refers to the entire arm

Plantar

sole of the foot

popliteal

back of the knee

trunk

torso

umbilical

navel area

Cranial Cavity

head (dorsal)

spinal cavity

vertebrae and spinal cord (dorsal)

thoracic cavity

ventral

abdominopelvic cavity

ventral

mediastinum

heart, trachea, esophagus, aorta, thymus gland

pleural

lungs

abdominal cavity

stomach, liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, small intestine and most of large intestine

pelvic cavity

urinary structures, reproductive structures, and last part of large intestine

retroperitonum

kidneys