Anatomy General Terminology

SUPERIOR

a part is above another part, or closer to the head

INFERIOR

a part is below another part, or toward the feet

ANTERIOR

toward the front; ventral

POSTERIOR

opposite of anterior; toward the back; dorsal

MEDIAL

relates to an imaginary midline dividing the body into equal right and left halves

LATERAL

toward the side with respect to the imaginary midline

IPSILATERAL

pertains to the same side

CONTRALATERAL

refers to the opposite side

PROXIMAL

a part that is closer to the trunk of the body or closer to another specified point of reference than another point

DISTAL

opposite of proximal; a particular body part is farther from the trunk or farther from another specified point of reference than another part

SUPERFICIAL

situated near the surface

PERIPHERAL

outward or near the surface; describes location of certain blood vessels and nerves

DEEP

parts that are more internal

SAGITTAL

lengthwise cut that divides the body into right and left portions

MIDSAGITTAL

passes along the midline and divides the body into equal parts; median

PARASAGITTAL

sagittal section lateral to midline

TRANSVERSE

horizontal; a cut that divides the body into superior and inferior portions

CORONAL

frontal; a section that divides the body into anterior and posterior portions

CROSS SECTION

a cut across the structure

OBLIQUE

an angular cut

LONGITUDINAL

a lengthwise cut

EPIGASTRIC REGION

upper middle portion

LEFT and RIGHT HYPOCHONDRIAC REGIONS

on the left/right side of the epigastric region

UMBILICAL REGION

central portion of abdomen

LEFT and RIGHT LUMBAR REGIONS

on the left/right side of the umbilical region

HYPOGASTRIC REGIONS

lower middle portion of the abdomen located below the umbilical region, generally associated with the urinary bladder and reproductive organs

LEFT and RIGHT ILIAC (INGUINAL) REGIONS

left/right side of the hypograstric region

ABDOMINAL

region between the thorax and pelvis

ACROMIAL

point of the shoulder

ANTEBRACHIAL

forearm

ANTECUBITAL

space in front of the elbow

AXILLARY

armpit

BRACHIAL

arm

BUCCAL

cheek

CARPAL

wrist

CEPHALIC

head

CERVICAL

neck

COSTAL

ribs

COXAL

hip

CRURAL

leg

CUBITAL

elbow

DIGITAL

finger or toe

DORSUM

back

FEMORAL

thigh

FRONTAL

forehead

GENITAL

reproductive organs

GLUTEAL

butt

INGUINAL

depressed area of the abdominal wall near the thigh (groin)

LUMBAR

region of lower back between the ribs and pelvis (loin)

MAMMARY

breast

NASAL

nose

OCCIPITAL

lower posterior region of the head

ORAL

mouth

ORBITAL

eye cavity

OPTIC

eye

PALMAR

palm of the hand

PATELLAR

front of the knee

PECTORAL

chest

PEDAL

foot

PELVIC

pelvis

PERINEAL

region between the anus and the external reproductive organs (perineum)

PLANTAR

sole of the foot

POPLITEAL

area behind the knee

SACRAL

posterior region between the hipbones

STERNAL

middle of the thorax, anteriorly

SURAL

calf

TARSAL

instep of the foot (ankle)

UMBILICAL

naval

VERTEBRAL

spinal column