Directional Terms, Sections & Abdominal Cavity + Body Regions 2025-2026

Superior

above

Inferior

below

Anterior (ventral)

toward the front

Posterior (dorsal)

toward the back

Medial

Toward the midline of the body

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body

bilateral

Paired structures, one on each side of the midline

Ipsilateral

structures on the same side of the body

Contralateral

structures on the opposite side of the body

Proximal

closer to point of attachment to trunk

Distal

farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

superficial

near the surface

deep

Away from the body surface; more internal

transverse plane

horizontal division of the body into upper and lower portions

Midline

An imaginary line drawn down the center of the body, dividing it into right and left halves.

midsagittal plane

divides the body into equal right and left sides

sagittal plane

vertical division of the body into right and left portions

frontal plane

Divides the body into front and back portions.

epigastric region

right hypochondriac region

left hypochondriac region

umbilical region

right iliac region

left iliac region

hypogastric region

right lumbar region

left lumbar region

right upper quadrant

left upper quadrant

left lower quadrant

right lower quadrant

coronal plane

standard anatomical position

standing upright, head faces forward, arms at sides, palms face forward, thumbs pointed outward, feet flat, toes pointing forward

Abdominal

abdomen, stomach

Acromial

shoulder

Antebrachial

forearm

Antecubital

front of elbow

Axillary

armpit region

Brachial

upper arm

Buccal

cheek

Calcaneal

heel

Carpal

wrist

Cephalic

head

Cervical

neck

Coxal

hip

Cranial

skull

Crural

front of the lower leg; shin

Cubital

back of elbow

digital

fingers, toes

Dorsal

back

Femoral

thigh

Gluteal

buttock

hallux

big toe

Inguinal

groin

Lumbar

lower back, loin

Frontal

forehead

Mammilary

breast

manus

hand

mental

chin

Nasal

nose

oral

mouth

Orbital

eye

Otic

ear

Palmar

palm of hand

Patellar

kneecap region; anterior knee

pedal

foot

Pelvic

pelvis region

plantar

sole of foot

Pollex

thumb

Popliteal

back of knee

Pubic

genital region, pubis

Sacral

Posterior region between the hip bones

Scapular

shoulder blade region

Sternal

breastbone

Sural

Calf or posterior surface of the lower leg

Tarsal

ankle

thoracic/pectoral

chest area

Umbilical

navel, belly button

Vertebral

area of spinal column