Language of Anatomy- Anterior Surface Landmarks

Surface Landmark Terms/ Body Directional Terms

Superior/ Inferior

above/below; superior is toward the head end of the body; inferior is away from the head (lower)

Anterior/ Posterior

front of the body/ back of the body

Medial/ Lateral

toward the midline of the body/ away from the midline of the body

Proximal/ Distal

toward or nearest the trunk (stomach area) of the body/ away from or farthest from the trunk of the body

Abdominal

anterior body trunk inferior to ribcage

Acromial

point of the shoulder

Antebrachial

forearm

Antecubital

anterior surface of the elbow

Axillary

armpit

Brachial

arm

Buccal

cheek

Carpal

wrist

Cephalic

head

Cervical

neck region

Coxal

hip

Crural

anterior part of leg

Digital

fingers or toes

Femoral

thigh

Fibular

lateral side of leg

Frontal

forehead

Hallux

great toe

Inguinal

groin area

Mammary

breast region

Manus

hand

Mental

chin

Nasal

nose

Oral

mouth

Orbital

bony eye socket

Palmar

palm of hand

Patellar

anterior knee region (kneecap)

Pedal

foot

Pelvic

pelvis region

Pollex

thumb

Pubic

genital area

Sternal

region of breastbone/ center of chest

Tarsal

ankle

Thoracic

chest

Umbilical

navel (bellybutton)

The heart is ____ to the lungs

medial

The mammary region is _____ to the scapular region

anterior