Directional Terms, Planes, Regions, and Quadrants - Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering directional terms, anatomical planes, abdominal regions and quadrants, patient positions, and common abbreviations.

anter/o

Combining form meaning anterior; toward the front.

caud/o

Combining form meaning caudal; toward the tail.

cephal/o

Combining form meaning cephalic; toward the head.

dist/o

Combining form meaning distal; farther from the point of attachment.

dors/o

Combining form meaning dorsal; back.

infer/o

Combining form meaning inferior; below.

later/o

Combining form meaning lateral; toward the side.

medi/o

Combining form meaning medial; toward the midline.

poster/o

Combining form meaning posterior; toward the back.

proxim/o

Combining form meaning proximal; nearer to the point of attachment.

super/o

Combining form meaning superior; above.

ventr/o

Combining form meaning ventral; belly side (anterior).

-ad

Suffix meaning pertaining to.

-al

Suffix meaning pertaining to.

-ic

Suffix meaning pertaining to.

-ior

Suffix meaning pertaining to.

anterior

Toward the front of the body.

posterior

Toward the back of the body.

cephalad

Toward the head.

caudal

Toward the tail.

distal

Farther from the trunk or point of origin; farther from.

proximal

Nearer to the point of attachment or trunk.

dorsal

Relating to the back or posterior side.

ventral

Relating to the belly or anterior side.

inferior

Below or toward the feet; lower.

superior

Above or toward the head; upper.

medial

Toward the midline of the body.

lateral

Toward the side; away from the midline.

mediolateral

Between the midline and a side; toward the middle and side.

anterolateral

Toward the front and side.

anteromedial

Toward the front and midline.

anterosuperior

Toward the front and above.

posterolateral

Toward the back and side.

anteroposterior (AP)

Relating to the front and back; a plane dividing the body into anterior and posterior.

coronal plane

Frontal plane; divides the body into anterior and posterior parts.

frontal plane

Another term for the coronal plane.

sagittal plane

Plane that divides the body into left and right portions.

transverse plane

Horizontal plane dividing the body into superior and inferior parts.

LUQ

Left upper quadrant.

RUQ

Right upper quadrant.

RLQ

Right lower quadrant.

LLQ

Left lower quadrant.

epigastric region

Upper central region of the abdomen, just above the stomach.

hypochondriac regions

Upper side regions of the abdomen (right and left).

hypogastric region

Lower central region of the abdomen.

iliac regions

Lower side regions of the abdomen (right and left).

lumbar regions

Middle left and right regions of the abdomen.

umbilical region

Central region surrounding the navel (umbilicus).

Fowler position

Semi-upright seated position.

orthopnea position

Position to ease breathing, typically upright.

prone position

Lying face down.

Sims position

Lying on the left side with the right knee drawn up.

supine position

Lying on the back.

Trendelenburg position

Lying on the back with the body tilted so the head is lower than the feet.

posteroanterior (PA)

Direction from back to front; used in imaging and positioning.

ant

Abbreviation for anterior.

med

Abbreviation for medial.

inf

Abbreviation for inferior.

PA

Abbreviation for posteroanterior.

sup

Abbreviation for superior.

lat

Abbreviation for lateral.