Introduction to Anatomy: Anatomical Position and Measurement Terms

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical position and measurement terms as presented in the LF $$1.2$$ lecture by Martin Silke.

Dexter

Right (e.g., Atrium dextrum — right atrium of the heart).

Sinister

Left (e.g., Atrium sinistrum — left atrium of the heart).

Cranial

Towards the head (e.g., Polus cranialis — head-oriented pole).

Caudal

Towards the feet; literally: tailwards (e.g., Polus caudalis — foot-oriented pole).

Medial

Towards the middle (e.g., Malleolus medialis — medial malleolus/inner ankle).

Lateral

Towards the side or lateral (e.g., Malleolus lateralis — lateral malleolus/outer ankle).

Ventral

Towards the belly (e.g., Radix ventralis — anterior/ventral root of a spinal nerve).

Dorsal

Towards the back (e.g., Radix dorsalis — posterior/dorsal root of a spinal nerve).

Anterius

Front or anterior (e.g., Musculus tibialis anterior — anterior tibialis muscle).

Posterius

Back or posterior (e.g., Musculus tibialis posterior — posterior tibialis muscle).

Superius

Top or superior (e.g., Vena cava superior — superior vena cava).

Inferius

Bottom or inferior (e.g., Vena cava inferior — inferior vena cava).

Proximal

Close to the center or trunk (e.g., Phalanx proximalis — proximal phalanx/finger bone).

Distal

Farther from the center or trunk (e.g., Phalanx distalis — distal phalanx/finger bone).

Inter

Between (e.g., Musculi intercostales — intercostal muscles).

Intra

Within (e.g., Intraartikulr — located within a joint).

Extra

Outside (e.g., Extraartikulr — located outside of a joint).

Internus

The inner; located inside (e.g., Musculus obliquus internus abdominis — internal oblique muscle).

Externus

The outer; located outside (e.g., Musculus obliquus externus abdominis — external oblique muscle).

Sub-

Below (e.g., Musculus subscapularis — subscapularis muscle).

Pr-

Before something (e.g., Gyrus praecentralis — precentral gyrus of the brain).

Post-

After something (e.g., Gyrus postcentralis — postcentral gyrus of the brain).

Supra-

Above (e.g., Musculus supraspinatus — supraspinatus muscle).

Infra-

Lying below or under (e.g., Musculus infraspinatus — infraspinatus muscle).

Majus

The Large (e.g., Tuberculum majus humeri — greater tubercle of the humerus).

Minimus

The Small (e.g., Musculus gluteus minimus — smallest gluteal muscle).

Major

Large or larger (e.g., Musculus pectoralis major — pectoralis major muscle).

Minor

Small or smaller (e.g., Musculus pectoralis minor — pectoralis minor muscle).

Exo-

Outside of (e.g., Exozytose — the release of substances from a cell to the outside).

Endo-

Inside of (e.g., Endothel — inner cell layer of blood and lymph vessels).

Palmar

On the palm of the hand (e.g., Aponeurosis palmaris — palmar aponeurosis).

Plantar

On the sole of the foot (e.g., Aponeurosis plantaris — plantar aponeurosis).

Profundus

Deep (e.g., Musculus flexor digitorum profundus — deep finger flexor).

Superficialis

Superficial (e.g., Musculus flexor digitorum superficialis — superficial finger flexor).

Frontal

Towards the forehead (e.g., Lobus frontalis — frontal lobe of the brain).

Occipital

Towards the back of the head (e.g., Lobus occipitalis — occipital lobe of the brain).

Hyper-

Over, more, or increased (e.g., Hypertonie — increased blood pressure).

Hypo-

Under, less, or decreased (e.g., Hypotonie — decreased blood pressure).

Minus

Small (e.g., Tuberculum minus humeri — lesser tubercle of the humerus).

Longus

Long (e.g., Musculus adductor longus — long adductor muscle).

Brevis

Short (e.g., Musculus adductor brevis — short adductor muscle).

Semi-

Half- (e.g., Musculus semitendinosus — semitendinosus muscle).

Uni- / uno-

One (e.g., Unilateral — one-sided).

Bi-

Two (e.g., Musculus biceps brachii — two-headed arm muscle).

Tri-

Three (e.g., Musculus triceps brachii — three-headed arm muscle).

Quadri-

Fourfold or four (e.g., Musculus quadriceps femoris — four-headed thigh muscle).

Rectus

Straight (e.g., Musculus rectus abdominis — straight abdominal muscle).

Unilateral

One-sided (e.g., Unilaterale Parese — one-sided paralysis).

Ipsilateral

On the same side (e.g., Ipsilaterale Extremitten — arm and leg on the same side of the body).

Bilateral

Two-sided (e.g., Bilaterale Pupillenerweiterung — dilation of both pupils).

Contralateral

Opposite side (e.g., Contralaterale Krperhlfte — opposite side of the body).