Body Regions, Cavities, Directional Terms & Planes

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering body regions, anatomical cavities, positional and directional terms, and fundamental anatomical planes for efficient exam review.

Axial region

The central part of the body made up of the head, neck, and trunk.

Appendicular region

The portions of the body consisting of the upper and lower limbs and their girdles.

Cephalic

Pertaining to the head region.

Frontal (region)

The forehead area of the head.

Orbital

Area of the bony eye socket.

Nasal

Region of the nose.

Oral

Region of the mouth.

Mental

Region of the chin.

Cervical

Pertaining to the neck.

Thoracic

Pertaining to the chest region.

Sternal

Area of the breastbone (sternum).

Axillary

Armpit region.

Mammary

Breast area.

Abdominal

Region between the thorax and pelvis; houses major digestive organs.

Umbilical

Area surrounding the navel (belly button).

Pelvic

Region of the pelvis below the abdomen.

Inguinal

Groin region where thigh meets trunk.

Pubic

Genital region.

Acromial

Point of the shoulder.

Brachial

Pertaining to the upper arm.

Antecubital

Front (inner surface) of the elbow.

Olecranal

Back (point) of the elbow.

Antebrachial

Pertaining to the forearm.

Carpal

Wrist region.

Manus

Hand region.

Pollex

Thumb.

Metacarpal

Back of hand between wrist and fingers.

Palmar

Anterior (palm) surface of the hand.

Digital (hand/foot)

Fingers or toes.

Coxal

Hip region.

Femoral

Thigh region.

Patellar

Front of the knee.

Popliteal

Back of the knee.

Crural

Leg region between knee and ankle (shin).

Sural

Calf region on back of leg.

Fibular (peroneal)

Lateral side of the leg.

Pedal

Foot region.

Tarsal

Ankle region.

Calcaneal

Heel of the foot.

Metatarsal

Top of the foot between ankle and toes.

Plantar

Sole of the foot.

Hallux

Great (big) toe.

Sacral

Area between hips overlying the sacrum.

Gluteal

Buttock region.

Perineal

Region between anus and external genitalia.

Cranial cavity

Dorsal body cavity that houses the brain.

Spinal (vertebral) cavity

Dorsal cavity within the vertebral column containing the spinal cord.

Thoracic cavity

Superior ventral cavity containing heart and lungs.

Abdominal cavity

Part of the ventral cavity containing stomach, liver, intestines, etc.

Pelvic cavity

Inferior part of ventral cavity; contains bladder, reproductive organs, rectum.

Abdominopelvic cavity

Continuous cavity formed by the abdominal and pelvic cavities.

Dorsal cavity

Posterior body cavity composed of cranial and spinal cavities.

Ventral cavity

Anterior body cavity comprising thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Anatomical position

Standing erect, feet forward, arms at sides, palms facing forward.

Supine

Body lying face up.

Prone

Body lying face down.

Sagittal plane

Vertical plane dividing the body into left and right portions.

Frontal (coronal) plane

Vertical plane dividing the body into anterior and posterior parts.

Transverse plane

Horizontal plane dividing the body into superior and inferior parts.

Superior

Toward the head; above.

Inferior

Toward the feet; below.

Anterior (ventral)

Toward the front of the body.

Posterior (dorsal)

Toward the back of the body.

Medial

Toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body.

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk.

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk.

Superficial

Closer to or on the body surface.

Deep

Farther from the body surface; more internal.

Dorsal (hand/foot)

Posterior surface of the hand or top surface of the foot.

Plantar

Bottom (sole) of the foot.

Contra-lateral

Located on or affecting the opposite side of the body.