Anatomical Terms to Know

anatomical position

the body is erect, feet together, palms facing forward and thumbs pointing away from the body

prone

if referring to whole body, means lying with face downward; if referring to hands, means palms turned downward

supine

if referring to whole body, means lying with face upward; if referring to hands, means palms turned upward

superior, cephalic, cranial

toward the head or upper part of structure

inferior, caudal

toward the tail or lower part of structure

medial

nearer to midline or center plane (a direction)

lateral

further from midline or center plane

intermediate

between other structures

anterior

toward or at the front; in front of

posterior

toward or at the rear; behind

dorsal

refers to the back; also back of hand and top of foot; in the brain refers to the top of the brain

ventral

refers to the front, in the brain refers to the underside

deep

further from surface, refers to solid form

superficial

nearer to surface, refers to solid form

proximal

nearer to root of limb; nearer to axial skeleton; near the beginning of the structure

distal

further from root of limb; farther away from axial skeleton; farther from beginning of structure

palmar

refers to palm-side of hand

plantar

refers to sole of foot

internal

inside, refers to wall of cavity of a hollow form; if used for movement, refers to medial rotation

external

outside, refers to wall of cavity of a hollow form; if used for rotation, refers to lateral rotation

ipsilateral

on the same side of the body

contralateral

on opposite sides of the body

midsagittal, medial

vertical plane that passes midway through the body; equal right and left sides

Parasagittal

vertical plane dividing body into unequal left and right sides, on either side of midsagittal

frontal, coronal

vertical plane that divides body into anterior and posterior parts

horizontal, transverse

plane parallel to the ground dividing body into upper and lower halves

Longitudinal

A cut made along the long axis

Transverse

A cut made at right angles to long axis

Oblique

A slanting cut

Median

A cut made in the midline or center plane

Cephalic

Head

Cervical

Neck

Thoracic

Chest

Axillary

Armpit

Abdominal

Middle region (between diaphragm & pelvis)

Lumbar

Inferior region of spine (typically on dorsal aspect)

Sacral

Sacrum

Pelvic

Pelvis

Arm

Brachium

Proximal segment of upper limb

Antebrachial

Forearm

Carpal

Wrist

Manus

Hand

Pollex

Thumb

Digital

Fingers

Palmar

Ventral aspect of hand

Gluteal

Buttocks

Thigh

Proximal segment of lower limb

Leg

Crus

Distal segment of lower limb

Plantar

Sole of foot

Hallux

First toe (great toe