Anatomical Terminology, Body Cavities, and Membranes

A&P Lab 1 = pt.1

anterior (ventral)

on or near the front of the body

posterior (dorsal)

toward the back

superior (cephalic or cranial_

above, in reference to a portion of the body in the anatomical position

inferior (caudal)

below, in reference to a partial structure, with the body in the anatomical position

medial

toward the midline of the body

lateral

pertaining to the side

proximal

a direction toward the point of attachment or origin; for a lib. towards its attachment to the trunk

distal

a direction away from the point of attachment or origin; for a limb, away from its attachment to the trunk

superficial (external)

referring to a structure closer to the surface of the body

deep (internal)

referring to a structure farther from the surface of the body

cervical

regional term for “neck”

thoracic

regional term for “chest”

lumbar

regional term meaning “abdomen/lower back”

sacral

region term for the area between the hip bones

axilla

regional term for the “arm pit”

inguinal

regional term for the area towards the groin

brachial

regional term for “arm”

antebrachial

regional term for “forearm”

palmar

regional term for “palm”

femoral

regional term for “thigh”

crural

regional term for “leg”

plantar

regional term for “foot”

sagittal plane

a vertical plane that divides the body into left and right portions

midsagittal plane

a plane passing through the midline of the body that divides it into the left and right halve

parasagittal

a plane that parallels the midsagittal plane but does not pass along the midline

frontal (coronal) plane

a vertical plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior portions

transverse plane

a horizontal plane that divides the body into superior and inferior portions

epigastric region

top middle abdominal region

hypochondriac (2, left and right) regions

the two abdominal regions directly lateral to the epigastric region

umbilical region

direct middle abdominal region

lumbar (2, left and right) regions

the two abdominal regions lateral to the umbilical region

hypogastric region

bottom middle abdominal region

inguinal (2, left and right) region

the two abdominal regions directly lateral to the hypogastric region