Anatomy Directional/Regional/Planal Terms

Mr Plazak

Posterior

Back

Anterior

Front

Dorsal

Back (spine-side)

Ventral

Front (belly-side)

Proximal

Towards point of origin

Distal

Away from point of origin

Superior

Towards headI

Inferior

Away from head

Medial

Toward mid-line of body

Lateral

Away from mid-line of body

Deep

Away from surface of body

Superficial

Towards surface of body

Abdominal

Anterior body trunk, inferior to ribs

Stomach

Antecubital

Anterior of elbow

Where they take blood

Gluteal

“Buttock”

Axillary

Armpit

Brachial

Arm

Inguinal

Where thigh meets body trunk, inferior to abdominal

Buccal

Mouth cheek

Calcaneal

Heel of foot

Lumbar

Loin, posterior between rips/hips

Carpal

Wrist

Cephallic

Head

Nasal

Nose area

Cervical

Neck region

Coxal

Hip

Occipital

Posterior base of skull

Digital

Toes/fingers

Femoral

Thigh

Olecranal

Posterior elbow (cap)

Oral

Mouth

Orbital

Eye area

Patellar

Anterior knee (kneecap)

Scapular

Shoulder blades

Sternal

Sternum (between ribs, breastbone)

Tarsal

Ankles

Pelvic

Anterior pelvis

Popliteal

Posterior knee (back of knee)

Sacral

Between hips at base of spine

Thoracic

Between neck/abdomen, chest

Umbilical

Navel (belly button)

Vertebral

Spinal column (spine)

Cranial cavity

Head cavity

Thoracic cavity

Chest cavity

Abdominal cavity

In your abdomen

Pelvic cavity

In your pelvis

Abdomino-Pelvic cavity

Between the abdominal and pelvic cavities

Vertebral cavity

Spinal column

Dorsal body cavity

Back of the head to the bottom of your trunk

Ventral body cavity

Front of the shoulders to the pelvic region

Coronal plane

Divides the body vertically into anterior and posterior parts

Sagittal plane

Divides the body vertically into unequal right and left parts.

Transverse plane

Divides the body horizontally into superior and inferior parts

Median plane (or midsaggital)

Divides the body vertically into equal left and right parts