Anatomical and Regional Terminology

Anatomical Position

Body Erect, Feet together

Palms face forward (anterior)

Thumbs point away from body (lateral)

Standard Reference Point

Directional terms

Used in anatomy reference deviations from the anatomical position

Ex. rotation of arm

Regional terms

the names of specific body areas. The areas labeled here pertain to the fundamental divisions of the body.

Medial

Toward or at the midline of the body

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body; side

Intermediate

Between a more medial and a more lateral structure

Proximal

Closer to the origin (point of attachment) of the body part

Distal

Farther from the origin of a body part

Superficial

Toward or at the body surface

Deep

Away from the body surface; more internal

Superior

Towards the head end or upper part of a structure or the body

Inferior

Away from the head end or toward the lower parts of a structure of the body

Anterior (Ventral)

Toward or at the front of the body

Posterior (Dorsal)

Toward the back of the body; behind

Abdominal Region

Anterior body trunk inferior to ribs

Acromial

point of shoulder

Antecubital

anterior surface of elbow

Antebrachial

forearm

Axillary

armpit

Brachial

arm

Buccal

cheek area

Carpal

wrist

Cervical

neck region

Coxal

hip region

Crural

leg (lower)

Deltoid

Shoulder

Digital

fingers/toes

Femoral

thigh

Fibular

lateral part of leg

Frontal

forehead

Inguinal

area where thigh meets body trunk

Nasal

nose area

Oral

Mouth

Orbital

eye area

Patellar

anterior knee

Pelvic

area overlying the pelvis

Pubic

genital region

Sternal

breastbone area

Tarsal

ankle region

Thoracic

chest

Umbilical

navel/ bellybutton

Acromial

point of shoulder

Calcaneal

heel of foot

Cephalic

head

Cervical

superior region of spine

Gluteal

buttock

Lumbar

area of back between ribs and hips

Occipital

posterior surface of head

Olecranal

posterior elbow

Otic

Ear

Plantar

inferior surface of foot

Popliteal

posterior knee area

Sacral

area between hips

Scapular

shoulder blade region

Sural

the posterior surface of lower leg; the calf

Vertebral

area of spine

Sagittal (body plane)

divides the body into right and left halves

Midsagittal (body plane)

divides the body into equal right and left halves

Transverse (body plane)

divides the body into superior and inferior halves

Frontal (body plane)

divides the body into anterior and posterior halves

Dorsal Body Cavity

made up of the cranial and spinal cavities

Ventral Body Cavity

made up of the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities

Right Upper Quadrant

liver and gallbladder

Left Upper Quadrant

stomach, pancreas, intestines, spleen

Left Lower Quadrant

intestines, left kidney, bladder

Right Lower Quadrant

intestines, right kidney, bladder