A&P Terminology and Organ Systems

correct anatomical position

laying on your back, arms out, palms up and feet shoulder length apart, face and feet facing forward.

supination

face up orientation

pronation

face down orientation

superior

when something is above another thing, only used for torso and the head

inferior

when something is below another thing, only used for torso and the head

proximal

refers to a part being closer to the point of attachment than another part of the body, only used for arms and legs

distal

when one part is further from the point of attachment than another body part, only used for arms and legs

anterior

front of the body

posterior

back of the body

cranial

towards the head

caudal

towards the feet

dorsal

refers to the back of the body

ventral

refers to the front of the body

medial

refers to being close to the middle line of the body

lateral

refers to being far from the middle line of the body

superficial

position is closer to the surface of the body

deep

position is further from the surface of the body

frontal plane

splits the body into the front and back sections

transverse plane

splits the body horizontally into upper and lower sections

sagittal plane

splits the body vertically into right and left sides

midsagittal/median plane

vertical plane directly in the middle of the body

parasagittal plane

vertical plane that divides the body into unequal right and left sides

head and neck region

brain, larynx, trachea, esophogus, and thyroid gland

thoracic region

heart, lungs, bronchi, and thymus

abdominopelvic region

spinal cord, omentum, stomach, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, spleen, small and large intestines, adrenal glands, kidney, bladder, ureters, and rectum

mental

chin

nasal

nose

occipital

lower back of the head

brachial

arm

acromial

shoulder

coxal

hip

popliteal

back of the knee

calcaneal

heel

tarsal

ankle

fibular

side of lower leg

femoral

thigh

carpal

wrist

olecranal

elbow

cervical

the neck

axillary

armpit

sternal

sternum

scapular

shoulder blades

abdominal

abdomen

lumbar

lower back

digital

fingers and toes

manus

hand

pedal

foot

plantar

bottom of the foot

patellar

knee cap

sural

calf

pubic

genital

buccal

cheek

cephallic

head

antebrachial

forearm

antecubital

elbow pit

deltoid

part of arm under the shoulder

inguinal

groin

sacral

tailbone

gluteal

butt

verebral

spine