Human Body: Orientation & Anatomical terminology

anatomical position

The body is erect and the arms are hanging at the sides of the body with the palms forward and the thumbs pointing away.

superior

Above; at a higher level (towards the head)

inferior

Below; at a lower level

anterior

the front; before (Ventral)

posterior

the back; behind (Dorsal)

medial

towards the body's longitudinal axis (the middle; mid-sagittal plane)

lateral

away from the body's longitudinal axis (away from the midline)

intermediate

between two structures

proximal

towards an attached base

distal

away from an attached base

superficial

At, near, or relatively close to the body surface

deep

farther from the body surface

The shoulders are _________ to the hips.

superior

The feet are ________ to the hips.

inferior

The navel is on the ________ surface of the trunk.

anterior

The kidneys are _______ to the small intestines.

posterior

The heart is ______ to the lungs.

medial

Moving _______ from the nose is the eyes.

laterally (lateral)

The elbow is ________ to the shoulder and wrist.

intermediate

The thigh is _______ to the foot.

proximal

Each foot is ______ to each knee.

distal

The scalp is ______ to the skull.

superficial

The brain is _____ compared to the skull which surrounds it.

deep

sagittal plane

runs longitudinally and divides the body into right and left portions

midsagittal plane

runs along the midline and divides the body into equal left and right portions.

frontal (coronal) plane

runs longitudinally and divides the body into posterior and anterior portions

transverse plane

runs horizontally and divides the body into superior and inferior portions

frontal

forehead

orbital/ocular

eye

oris

mouth

mentis

chin

cephalon

head

occipital

back of the skull

nasus

nose

cervicis

neck

acromion

point of the shoulder

thoracic

chest

axilla

armpit

mamma

breast

brachium

arm (shoulder to elbow)

antecubitis

front of the elbow

olecranon

back of elbow (point of elbow)

antebrachium

forearm

carpus

wrist

palm

palm

digits (phalanges)

fingers / toes

dorsum

back

lumbar

loin (region from rib to lower spine)

abdomen

stomach

umbilicus

navel

gluteus

buttocks

sacrum

region in-between hips

inguinal

groin

pelvis

hip region

pubis

genitals

femoral

thigh (hip to knee)

patellar

kneecap

crural

leg (knee to ankle)

popliteus

back of knee

sural

calf

calcaneus

heel

plantar

sole of the foot

tarsus

ankle

pes

foot

RUQ

right upper quadrant

LUQ

left upper quadrant

RLQ

right lower quadrant

LLQ

left lower quadrant

What organs are located in the RUQ?

liver

gall bladder

duodenum

head [part of] pancreas

(R) adrenal gland

upper lobe [part of] (R) kidney

hepatic flexure of colon [small intestines]

section of the ascending colon

section of transverse colon

What organs are located in the LUQ?

(L) lobe [part of] liver

stomach

spleen

upper lobe [part of] (L) kidney

pancreas

(L) adrenal gland

splenic flexure of colon [small intestines]

section of transverse colon

section of descending colon

What organs are located in the RLQ?

lower lobe [part of] (R) kidney

cecum

appendix

section of ascending colon

small intestine

(R) ovary

(R) fallopian tube

(R) side of uterus

(R) ureter

(R) spermatic cord

(R) side of bladder

What organs are located in the LLQ?

lower lobe [part of] (L) kidney

sigmoid colon

section of descending colon

small intestine

(L) ovary

(L) fallopian tube

(L) ureter

(L) spermatic cord

(L) side of uterus

(L) side of bladder