Language of Anatomy, Body Cavities, and Organ Systems

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical landmarks, body directions, planes, body cavities, serous membranes, abdominopelvic regions and quadrants, and organ systems.

Abdominal

Refers to the abdomen or belly.

Acromial

Refers to the point of the shoulder.

Antebrachial

Refers to the forearm.

Antecubital

Refers to the front of the elbow.

Axillary

Refers to the armpit.

Brachial

Refers to the upper arm.

Buccal

Refers to the cheek.

Calcaneal

Refers to the heel.

Carpal

Refers to the wrist.

Cephalic

Refers to the head.

Cervical

Refers to the neck.

Coxal

Refers to the hip.

Crural

Refers to the front lower leg.

Digital

Refers to the fingers or toes.

Dorsum

Refers to the back.

Femoral

Refers to the thigh.

Fibular (Peroneal)

Refers to the outer side of the leg.

Frontal

Refers to the forehead.

Gluteal

Refers to the buttocks.

Hallux

Refers to the big toe.

Inguinal

Refers to the groin.

Lumbar

Refers to the lower back.

Mammary

Refers to the breast.

Manus

Refers to the hand.

Mental

Refers to the chin.

Nasal

Refers to the nose.

Occipital

Refers to the back of the head.

Olecranal

Refers to the back of the elbow.

Oral

Refers to the mouth.

Orbital

Refers to the eye socket.

Otic

Refers to the ear.

Palmar

Refers to the palm of the hand.

Patellar

Refers to the front of the knees.

Pedal

Refers to the foot.

Pelvic

Refers to the pelvis.

Perineal

Refers to the area between the anus and genitalia.

Plantar

Refers to the bottom of the foot.

Pollex

Refers to the thumb.

Popliteal

Refers to the back of the knee.

Pubic

Refers to the genital area.

Sacral

Refers to the posterior region between the hips.

Scapular

Refers to the shoulder blade.

Sternal

Refers to the breast bone.

Sural

Refers to the calf.

Tarsal

Refers to the ankle.

Thoracic

Refers to the chest.

Umbilical

Refers to the belly button.

Vertebral

Refers to the spinal column.

Axial

Body division comprising the head, neck, and trunk.

Appendicular

Body division comprising the arms and legs.

Superior

Above.

Inferior

Below.

Cephalad (cranial)

Toward the head.

Caudal

Toward the lower end.

Anterior

Toward the front.

Posterior

Toward the back.

Dorsal

Back.

Ventral

Front.

Medial

Toward the body midline.

Lateral

Away from the body midline.

Proximal

Closer to where a limb attaches to the body.

Distal

Farther from where a limb attaches to the body.

Superficial (external)

Closer to the body's surface.

Deep (internal)

Farther inside the body.

Sagittal plane

Divides the body into left or right parts.

Midsagittal (median) plane

Divides the body into equal left and right parts.

Parasagittal plane

Divides the body into unequal left and right parts.

Frontal (coronal) plane

Divides the body into back and front parts.

Transverse (horizontal) plane

Divides the body into top and bottom parts (cross sections).

Oblique (diagonal) plane

A diagonal, angled cut through the body.

Dorsal Body Cavity

Back body cavity that includes the cranial cavity and vertebral (spinal) cavity.

Cranial Cavity

Subdivision of the dorsal body cavity containing the brain.

Vertebral (Spinal) Cavity

Subdivision of the dorsal body cavity containing the spinal cord.

Ventral Body Cavity

Front body cavity that includes the thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity.

Thoracic Cavity

Chest cavity containing the mediastinum, pericardial cavity, and pleural cavities.

Abdominopelvic Cavity

Ventral cavity subdivision containing the abdominal cavity and pelvic cavity.

Abdominal Cavity

Subdivision containing stomach, liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, and small intestine.

Pelvic Cavity

Subdivision containing bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum.

Peritoneal Cavity

Potential space between layers of peritoneum surrounding abdominal organs.

Parietal serosa

Subdivision of the serous membrane that lines the cavity wall.

Visceral serosa

Subdivision of the serous membrane that lines the organ surface.

Parietal pleura

Serous membrane lining the chest cavity wall surrounding the lungs.

Visceral pleura

Serous membrane lining the outer surface of the lungs.

Parietal pericardium

Serous membrane lining the wall of the pericardial cavity.

Visceral pericardium

Serous membrane lining the outer surface of the heart.

Parietal peritoneum

Serous membrane lining the wall of the abdominal cavity.

Visceral peritoneum

Serous membrane lining the surface of abdominal organs.

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)

Abdominopelvic quadrant containing the liver and gallbladder.

Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)

Abdominopelvic quadrant containing the stomach and spleen.

Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)

Abdominopelvic quadrant containing the appendix.

Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)

Abdominopelvic quadrant containing the colon.

Right hypochondriac region

Abdominopelvic region containing the liver, gallbladder, and kidney.

Epigastric region

Abdominopelvic region containing the stomach, liver, and pancreas.

Left hypochondriac region

Abdominopelvic region containing the stomach, spleen, and left kidney.

Right lumbar region

Abdominopelvic region containing kidney, small intestine, and part of colon.

Umbilical region

Abdominopelvic region containing the small intestine and colon.

Left lumbar region

Abdominopelvic region containing colon, left kidney, and small intestine.

Right iliac (inguinal) region

Abdominopelvic region containing the appendix.

Hypogastric (pubic) region

Abdominopelvic region containing the bladder, reproductive organs, and small intestine.

Left iliac (inguinal) region

Abdominopelvic region containing the colon.