TOPOGRAPHICAL ANATOMY

Dorsal

Towards the top

Ventral

Toward the belly

Medial

Towards the midline

Lateral

Away from the midline

Cranial

Towards the head

Caudal

Towards the tail

Rostral

Towards the nose

Distal

Away from the body

Proximal

Towards the body

Palmer

Underside of front limb

Plantar

Underside of rear limb

Axial

Towards Axial midline

Abaxial

Away from axial midline

Superficial

Outer layers

Deep

Inside layers

Anterior

Front of eye

Prosterior

Back of eye

Superior

Top of eye

Inferior

Bottom of eye

Dorsal Plane

Horizontal cross section

Transverse Plane

Cuts through neck, abdomen or limb at right angle (Medial / Lateral)

Sagittal Plane

Parallel to median plane (runs through limb medially)

Parasagittal segments

Run laterally to sagittal plane

Median Plane

Vertical midline

Frontal Plane

Transverse planes of the head

Flexion

Making angle between two bones smaller

Extension

Making angle between two bones larger

Retraction

Pulling of limb into / towards body

Protraction

Pushing of limb away from body

Abduction

Limb moving away from midline

Adduction

Limb moving towards midline

Circumduction

Limb moving in circles

Supernation

Outward limb rotation

Pronation

Inward limb rotation

Carpus

Elbow joint

Tarsus

Hock joint

Directional Terms

Directions, planes, positions and movements

Regional terms

Specific areas of the body - head, neck, spine sections, abdomen sections, hind end, limbs.

Cephalic Region

Head

Cranium region

Skull region

Cervical region

Neck region

Thoracic Region

Chest and rib cage Region

Abdomen region

Abdominal cavity region

Pelvic region

Hip region

Caudal region

Tail region

Perineal region

Anal/vaginal region

Brachial or Brachium

Arm (Shoulder to elbow)

Antebrachial or Antibrachium

Fore arm (Elbow to wrist)

Manus

Hand region

Carpal

Wrist joint

Metacarpal

Palm

Phalangeal (Forelimb)

Fingers

Pes

Foot region

Tarsal

Ankle region

Metatarsal

Foot

Phalangeal (hind)

Toes

Femoral region

Hip or pelvis

Crural or Crus

Shank - between the popliteal and tarsal regions

Proximal Phalangeal

Top of toe/finger

Middle Phalangeal

Middle of toe/finger

Popliteal

Behind the knee below the femoral region

Distal Phalangeal

End of toe/finger

Forearm

Antibrachium + Radius & Hu

Shoulder

Scapular + Scapula Bone

Arm

Brachium + Humerus Bone

Wrist

Carpus + Carpal Bones

Palm

Metacarpus + Metacarpal bones

Fingers

Didgets + Phalange Bones (Fore)

Thigh

Femoral + Femur

Shank

Crus + Tibia & Fibula

Ankle

Tarsus + Tarsal Bones

Foot

Metatarsus + Metatarsal Bones

Toes (hind)

Digets + Phalange Bones (Hind)

Shoulder Joint

Joint between the scapular and brachium regions

or

Scapula and humerus bones

Elbow joint

Sits between the brachium and antibrachium

Or

Humerus and radius + Ulna bones

Wrist joint - carpus

Sits between the antibrachium and metacarpus

Or

Radius + Ulna and Metacarpal bones

Knuckles (fore)

Sit between the metacarpus and digits

Or

Metacarpal and Phalangeal bones

Hip Joint

Sits above the femoral region

Or

Femur

Knee / stifle joint - patella bone

Sits between the femoral and crus regions

Or

Femur and tibia + fibula

Hock - tarsus

Sits between the crus and metatarsus

Or

Between the Tibia + fibula and metatarsal bones

Knucles (hind)

Sit between the metatarsus and digits

Or

Metatarsal and phalangeal bones