Anatomy Terms

Anatomical position

where a person is standing up with feet slightly apart and arms at their sides

Axial

• head, neck, and trunk 

Appendicular

• appendages (limbs) attached to the axis

• Superior

• (cranial): toward the upper part; above

Inferior

• away from the upper part, toward the lower part; below

Anterior

• toward the leading portion of the body, or at the front of the body; in front of

Posterior

• toward or at the back of the body; behind

Medial

• toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of

Lateral

• away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of

• Intermediate

• in between

• Proximal:

• closer to the main point of attachment

• Distal:

• farther from the point where the limb attaches to the body trunk

Superficial (external):

toward or at the body surface

• Deep (internal):

• away from the body surface

• Sagittal:

• a vertical plane that divides the body into left and right sections

• Frontal (coronal):

• a vertical plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (behind) sections

• Transverse (cross section):

• a horizontal plane that divides the body into superior (above) and inferior (below) sections

Dorsal body cavity

• Part of the axial portion of the body, encased in bony structures for protection

• Houses the fragile nervous systems organs

• Includes:

  • Cranial cavity: holds the brain (encased by the skull) 

  • Vertebral (Spinal) cavity: holds the spinal cord within the bony vertebrae

Ventral body cavity

• Part of the axial portion of the body, less protected but allows more mobility

• Houses the visceral organs

• Includes:

  • Thoracic cavity: holds the heart and lungs (protected by ribs and chest muscles)

    • Pleural cavities: hold the lungs

    • Pericardial cavity: holds the heart, esophagus, and trachea

  • Abdominopelvic cavity: holds the abdomen and pelvis

Abdominopelvic cavity

• holds the abdomen and pelvis

  • Abdominal cavity: holds the stomach, intestines, spleen, liver (as well as other organs)

    • peritoneum: membrane surrounding the abdominal wall (parietal layer) and covers internal organs

  • Pelvic cavity: holds the bladder, some reproductive organs, and rectum (protected by the pelvis)