Anatomical Language

Anatomical Position

The body is erect and facing forward; the arms are straight and at the sides of the body with the palms facing forward; the legs are straight with the feet facing forward and flat

Supine position

Body is horizontal and lying on the back

Prone position

The body is horizontal and lying on the stomach

What are the 5 main body regions?

The head

Neck

Trunk

Upper limbs

Lower limbs

What does the head contain of?

Skull (cranial and facial bones)

Face (anterior portion of the head compromised of the forehead, eyes, nose, mouth, cheeks, and chin)

What does the trunk consist of?

Chest (area between neck and diaphragm)

Abdomen

Pelvis

Back

What do the upper limbs consist of?

Shoulder

Arm

Forearm

Hand (wrist, palm, fingers)

What do the lower limbs consist of?

Buttocks

Groin

Thigh

Leg

Foot

Axial

Pertaining to the central part of the body, the head and trunk

Cephalic

Pertaining to the head

Cranial

Pertaining to the portion of the skull surrounding the brain

Facial

Pertaining to the face

Frontal

Pertaining to the forehead

Orbital

Pertaining to the eye

Otic

Pertaining to the ear

Nasal

Pertaining to the nose

Buccal

Pertaining to the cheeks

Oral

Pertaining to the mouth

Mental

Pertaining to the chin

Occipital

Pertaining to the back of the head

Cervical

Pertaining to the neck

Thoracic

Pertaining to the chest

Sternal

Pertaining to the chest

Pectoral

Pertaining to the breastbone

Mammary

Pertaining to the breast

Abdominal

Pertaining to the abdomen

Umbilical

Pertaining to the naval

Coxal

Pertaining to the hip

Pelvic

Pertaining to the pelvis

Pubic

Pertaining to the genital area

Dorsal

Pertaining to the back

Scapular

Pertaining to the shoulder blade

Vertebral

Pertaining to the spinal column

Lumbar

Pertaining to the lower back (lowest rib and buttocks)

Appendicular

Pertaining to the extremities or limbs

Acromial

Pertaining to the highest point of the shoulder

Axillary

Pertaining to the armpit

Brachial

Pertaining to the arm

Antecubital

Pertaining to the anterior surface of the elbow

Olecranal

Pertaining to the posterior surface of the elbow

Antebrachial

Pertaining to the forearm

Carpal

Pertaining to the wrist

Manual

Pertaining to the hand

Palmar

Pertaining to the hand

Digital

Pertaining to the digits (fingers and toes)

Inguinal

Pertaining to the groin where the thigh attaches to the pelvis

Gluteal

Pertaining to buttocks

Femoral

Pertaining to the thigh

Patellar

Pertaining to the anterior surface of the knee

Popliteal

Pertaining to the posterior surface of the knee

Crural

Pertaining the anterior surface of the leg

Fibular or Peroneal

Pertaining to the lateral side of the leg

Sural

Pertaining to the posterior surface of the leg

Tarsal

Pertaining to the ankle

Pedal

Pertaining to the foot

Plantar

Pertaining to the sole of foot

Calcaneal

Pertaining to the heel

Superior

Above

Inferior

Below

Anterior/Ventral

Closer towards the front

Posterior/Dorsal

Closer towards the back

Medial

Closer towards the midline of the body

Lateral

Away from the midline

Intermediate

Between two structures

Ipsilateral

On the same side

Contralateral

On the opposite side

Proximal

Nearer to the point of attachment of limb or trunk or nearer to the origin of a structure

Distal

Farther from point of attachment of limb to trunk or farther from the origin of a structure

Superficial

Closer towards the surface

Deep

Away from the surface

Sagittal Plane

Passes vertically through the body or organs and divide them into right and left sections

Midsagittal Plane

Divides through the midline into exactly two halves

Parasagittal Plane

Divides into unequal right and left portions

Frontal/ Ventral Plane

Passes vertically producing posterior and anterior parts

Transverse Plane

Splits the body into superior and inferior parts

Oblique

Passes through the body at any angle forming oblique sections

Longitudinal sections

Sections that are produced by a plane running along the long axis of a long narrow structure

Cross-sections

Sections that are produced by a plane running perpendicular to the long axis