Language of Anatomy

Anatomical Position

Subject stands erect, facing the observer, with the head level, eyes facing forward, feet flat on the floor and directed forward, arms at the sides, and palms facing forward.

Reference Point

Initial standard position used to avoid confusion and accurately describe body parts and positions.

Directional Terms

Terms used to explain exactly where one body structure is in relation to another.

Superior

Toward the head end or upper part of a structure or the body; above.

Cranial

Toward the head; another term for superior.

Cephalic

Toward the head; another term for superior.

Inferior

Away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; below.

Caudal

Away from the head or toward the lower part; another term for inferior.

Anterior

Toward or at the front of the body; in front of.

Ventral

Toward or at the front of the body; another term for anterior.

Posterior

Toward or at the backside of the body; behind.

Dorsal

Toward or at the backside of the body; another term for posterior.

Medial

Toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of.

Intermediate

Between a more medial and a more lateral structure.

Proximal

Close to the origin of the body part or point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk.

Distal

Farther from the origin of a body part or point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk.

Superficial

Toward or at the body surface.

External

Toward or at the body surface; another term for superficial.

Deep

Away from the body surface; more internal.

Internal

Away from the body surface; another term for deep.

Abdominal

Anterior body trunk inferior to the ribs.

Acromial

Point of shoulder.

Antebrachial

Forearm.

Axillary

Armpit.

Brachial

Arm.

Buccal

Cheek area.

Carpal

Wrist.

Cervical

Neck region.

Coxal

Hip.

Crural

Anterior leg; shin.

Deltoid

Curve of shoulder formed by the large deltoid muscle.

Digital

Fingers and toes.

Femoral

Thigh.

Fibular

Lateral part of leg.

Frontal

Forehead.

Inguinal

Area where thigh meets body trunk; groin.

Mental

Chin.

Nasal

Nose area.

Oral

Mouth.

Orbital

Eye area.

Patellar

Anterior knee.

Pectoral

Relating to, or occurring in or on, the chest.

Pelvic

Area overlying the pelvis anteriorly.

Pubic

Genital region.

Sternal

Breastbone area.

Tarsal

Ankle region.

Thoracic

Chest.

Umbilical

Navel.

Calcaneal

Heel of foot.

Gluteal

Buttock.

Lumbar

Area of back between ribs and hips; loin.

Occipital

Posterior surface of the head or base of skull.

Olecranal

Posterior surface of elbow.

Popliteal

Posterior knee area.

Sacral

Area between hips at base of spine.

Scapular

Shoulder blade region.

Sural

Posterior surface of leg; calf.

Vertebral

Area of spinal column.

Plantar

Sole of the foot.

Body Plane

Imaginary flat surface that separates the body or body part into portions.

Body Section

Cut made through the body wall or through an organ along an imaginary line called a plane.

Sagittal Section

Cut along the lengthwise or longitudinal plane that divides the body into right and left portions.

Median (Midsagittal) Section

Cut down the median plane that divides the right and left parts into equal sizes.

Parasagittal Section

Any sagittal section other than a median section.

Frontal Section

Cut along a lengthwise plane that divides the body or organ into anterior and posterior parts.

Coronal Section

Another name for a frontal section.

Transverse Section

Cut along a horizontal plane dividing the body or organ into superior and inferior parts.

Cross Section

Another name for a transverse section.

Body Cavities

Spaces within the body that provide different degrees of protection to the organs within them.

Dorsal Cavity

Body cavity with two subdivisions that are continuous with each other.

Cranial Cavity

Space inside the skull formed by the cranial bones; protects the brain.

Spinal Cavity

Extends from the cranial cavity to the end of the spinal cord; the spinal cord is protected by the bony vertebral column.

Ventral Cavity

Much larger than the dorsal cavity; contains all structures within the chest and abdomen.

Thoracic Cavity

Superior portion of the ventral cavity; separated from the rest of the ventral cavity by the diaphragm.

Diaphragm

Dome-shaped muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the rest of the ventral cavity.

Rib Cage

Protects organs such as the lungs and heart in the thoracic cavity.

Mediastinum

Separates the lungs into right and left cavities in the thoracic cavity; houses the heart, trachea, and several other visceral organs.

Abdominopelvic Cavity

Cavity inferior to the diaphragm.

Abdominal Cavity

Contains the stomach, liver, intestine, and other organs.

Pelvic Cavity

Contains reproductive organs, bladder, and rectum.

Abdominopelvic Quadrants

Four more-or-less equal regions of the abdominopelvic cavity commonly used by medical personnel.

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)

Right upper region of the abdominopelvic cavity.

Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)

Left upper region of the abdominopelvic cavity.

Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)

Right lower region of the abdominopelvic cavity.

Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)

Left lower region of the abdominopelvic cavity.

Umbilical Region

Center-most region, deep to and surrounding the umbilicus (navel).

Epigastric Region

Superior to the umbilical region.

Hypogastric Region

Inferior to the umbilical region.

Right Iliac Region

Lateral to the hypogastric region; associated with the superior part of the hip bone.

Left Iliac Region

Lateral to the hypogastric region; associated with the superior part of the hip bone.

Right Lumbar Region

Lateral to the umbilical region.

Left Lumbar Region

Lateral to the umbilical region.

Right Hypochondriac Region

Lateral to the epigastric region; contains the lower ribs.

Left Hypochondriac Region

Lateral to the epigastric region; contains the lower ribs.

Oral Cavity

Also called the mouth; contains the teeth and tongue.

Digestive Cavity

Continuous with the digestive organs and opens to the exterior at the anus.

Nasal Cavity

Located within and posterior to the nose; part of the respiratory system.

Orbital Cavities

Located in the skull; house the eyes and present them in an anterior position.

Middle Ear Cavities

Cavities carved into the skull that lie just medial to the eardrums.