Anatomical Position Terms

superior

above

inferior

below

medial

towards the midline

lateral

away from the midline

proximal

near the point of attachment to the trunk

distal

away from the point of attachment to the trunk

anterior

front

posterior

back

ventral

belly-side, synonymous with anterior in humans

dorsal

back-side, synonymous with posterior in humans

superficial

closer to the surface

deep

away from the surface

abdominal

abdomen

antecubital

forearm/elbow crease

axillary

armpit

brachial

upper arm (but not shoulder region)

buccal

cheek

calcaneal

heel

carpal

wrist

cephalic

whole head

cervical

neck

crural

anterior shin

coxal

outer/lateral hip

digital

fingers and toes

femoral

thigh

gluteal

buttocks

inguinal

groin (no-no square)

lumbar

lower back

nasal

nose

occipital

posterior head

olecranal

posterior elbow

oral

mouth

orbital

eye ball

patellar

anterior knee

pelvic

pelvis

popliteal

posterior knee

sacral

sacrum

scapular

shoulder blade

sternal

sternum/breast plate

sural

posterior calf

tarsal

ankle

thoracic

chest

umbillical

navel

vertebral

spine

coronal/frontal plane

divides the body vertically into anterior and posterior portions

sagittal plane

divides the body vertically into UNEQUAL right and left portions

transverse/axial plane

divides the body horizontally into superior and inferior portions (magician style)

median/midsagittal plane

divides the body vertically into EQUAL left and right portions (AKA right down the middle)

cranial cavity

brain, skull, cerebrospinal fluid

dorsal body cavity

brain, cervical, occipital, spinal column, cranial cavity

pelvic cavity

reproductive organs, bladder, pelvis, rectum, secum (lower intestines)

ventral body cavity

both thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities

thoracic cavity

lungs, heart, sternum, ribs, diaphragm, trachea, thymus

vertebral cavity

vertebrae, CSF, spinal cord

abdominal cavity

intestines, kidneys, liver, stomach, pancreas, appendix, gallbladder, spleen

abdomino-pelvic cavity

intestines, kidneys, liver, stomach, pancreas, appendix, gallbladder, spleen, urethra, reproductive organs, bladder, and pelvis