Covington, Sloan - 3rd - Anatomical Terms and Directions

standard anatomical position

agreed upon reference posture used globally in medicine and biology to describe the human body - person stands uprights, without leaning or bending - faces forwards eyes open and looking straight ahead - arms rest at sides elbows straight - palms are turned forward so thumbs point away from body - feet flat on ground, close together and parallel toes pointed forward

acromial

pertaining to the acromion (point of shoulder)

antebrachial

pertaining to the forearm

antecubital

pertaining to the area in front of the elbow

anterior (ventral)

toward the front or belly-side of the body

anteroposterior

passing from front to the back

axillary

pertaining to the armpit

bilateral

pertaining to two sides

brachial

pertaining to upper arm

buccal

pertaining to cheek

calcaneal

pertaining to heel bone

carpal

pertaining to wrist

caudal

toward the tailbone

cephalic

pertaining to the head, toward the head

cephalocaudal

pattern of growth and development that proceeds from the head downward to the feet

cervical

pertaining to neck

coxal

pertaining to hip

cranial

pertaining to skull

crural

pertaining to leg, specifically shin bone

cubital

pertaining to elbow

deep

more internal, further inside body, away from the body surface

digital

pertaining to fingers and toes

distal

situated further from center of body, trun, or point where limb attached to body

external

outer part of body

femoral

pertaining to thigh

fibular

refers to lateral side of the lower leg

frontal

pertaining to forehead

genital

pertaining to reproductive organs

gluteal

pertaining to buttocks

inferior

positioned below or toward feet

inguinal

pertaining to groin

internal

inside body

lumbar

pertaining to lower back region and 5 vertebrae between chest and sacrum

mammary

pertaining to breast region

medial

toward midline, center of body

mental

pertaining to chin

metacarpal

pertaining to hand bones

midline

imaginary center line splitting body into right and left halves

nasal

pertaining to nose

occipital

pertaining to back of head

olecranal

pertaining to olecranon, body tip/pointy part of elbow

oral

pertaining to mouth

orbital

pertaining to eye or eye socket

otic

pertaining to ear

palmar

pertaining to palm of hand

parietal

pertaining to outer wall of body cavity

patellar

pertaining to kneecap

pectoral

pertaining to chest

perineal

pertaining to perineum

plantar

pertaining to sole or bottom surface of foot

popliteal

pertaining to back hollow of knee

posterior (dorsal)

toward back or rear side of body

posteroanterior

passing from back to front

prone

lying face down with palms upward

proximal

situated nearer to center of body or trunk

pubic

refers to genital region

sacral

pertaining to triangular bone at base of spine

scapular

pertaining to scapula, shoulder blades

sternal

pertaining to sternum

superficial

toward body surface

supine

laying flat on back

superior

above or higher

sural

relating to or located in calf

tarsal

pertaining to ankle

thoracic

pertaining to chest

umbilical

pertaining to navel or belly button

unilater

one side

vertebral

spine or backbones

visceral

pertaining to internal organs

anatomical planes

body can be cut into three imaginary, flat sections

transverse plane/horizontal plane/axial plane

divides the body horizontally into top and bottom portions

frontal plane/coronal plan

divides body vertically into front and back portion

sagittal plane

divides the body vertically into right and left portions

midsagittal plane/median sagittal plane

cuts straight down the exact middle of body, creating two halves, the left and ride side

parasagittal plane

cuts off center, creating unequal left and right portions

oblique plane

an imaginary surface that cuts through the body or organ at a slanted angle that is neither horizontal nor vertical

anatomy

study of body structures

physiology

study of body structures

pathophysiology

study of diseaseb

body cavities

spaces within the body that contain and protect internal organs and body structures - two main cavities are dorsal and ventral

dorsal cavity

protects the organs and tissues within the backside of the body - it is divided into two separate cavities: cranial and spinal

cranial cavity

located within the skull and protects the brain

middle ear cavity

an air-filled space carved into the temporal bone - located between the eardrum and inner ear

orbital cavity

a cone shaped bony socket in the skull that houses and protects the eye

nasal cavity

is an air-filled space behind the nose, divided vertically by the nasal septum

oral cavity

is the mouth, bounded by lips, cheeks, palate, ad tongue, extending into the pharynx

spinal cavity

located within the spinal column and protects the spinal cord

ventral cavity

protects the organs and tissues within the front side of the body - divided into three separate cavities: thoracic, abdominal, pelvic