Surface Anatomy

vocab & definitions are from The Human Body Coloring Book from DK Publishing, available at Costco

pectoral region

the chest; sometimes used to refer to just the upper chest, where the pectoral muscles lie

epigastric region

the area of the abdominal wall above the transpyloric plane and framed by the diverging margins of the rib cage

lumbar region

the sides of the abdominal wall above the transpyloric and transtubercular planes

umbilical region

central region of the abdominal wall, around the umbilicus

transtubercular plane

this plane passes through the iliac tubercles and lies at the level of the fifth lumbar vertebra

iliac region

the area below the transtubercular plane and lateral to the midclavicular line; may also be referred to as the iliac fossa

midclavicular line

a vertical line running down from the midpoint of each clavicle

hypochondriac region

the abdominal region under the ribs on each side

axilla

loosely, the armpit; more precisely, the pyramid-shaped area between the upper arm and side of the thorax. its floor is the skin of the armpit, and it reaches up to the level of the clavicle, top of the scapula and the first rib

anterior surface of arm

anatomically, “arm” refers just to the part of the upper limb between the shoulder and the elbow

transpyloric plane

the horizontal plane joining the tips of the ninth costal cartilage, at the margins of the rib cage; also level with the first lumbar vertebra and the pylorus of the stomach

cubital fossa

the triangular area anterior to the elbow, bounded by a line between the bony epicondyles of the humerus on each side, and framed below by the pronator teres and the brachioradialis muscles

anterior surface of forearm

anatomically (and colloquially) the forearm is part of the upper limb between the elbow and wrist

palmar surface of hand

the anterior surface of the hand

inguinal region

the groin area, where the thigh meets the trunk

suprapubic region

the part of the abdomen that lies just above the pubic bones

anterior surface of thigh

as in common usage, the term “thigh” refers to the part of the lower limb between the hip and knee

anterior surface of leg

anatomically, “leg” refers just to the part between the knee and the ankle; the term “lower limb” is used for the whole limb

dorsum of foot

the upper surface of the foot, when standing upright

occipital region

the back of the head

lumbar region

the area between the thorax and pelvis

gluteal region

refers to the buttocks, and extends from the iliac crest above to the gluteal fold below

popliteal fossa

a diamond-shaped cavity at the back of the knee, between the diverging hamstring muscles above and the converging calf muscles below

calf

this common term is also used anatomically to describe the fleshy back of the leg

dorsum of hand

the back of the hand