Language of Anatomy

What are the three characteristics of the anatomical position?

Body erect, feet slightly apart, and arms hanging at sides with palms facing forward.

Sagittal plane

Divides body into left and right

Transverse plane

Divides body into superior and inferior

Frontal plane

Divides body into anterior and posterior

Superior (cephalad)

above

Inferior (caudal)

below

Anterior

front

Posterior

back

Medial

toward the median plane

Lateral

away from the median plane

Cranial

toward the head

Ventral

belly side

Dorsal

backside

Proximal

toward the trunk

Distal

farther from the trunk

Superficial

toward the body surface

Deep

away from the body surface

Axial region

Head, neck, and trunk

Appendicular region

Limbs

Abdominal

located below the ribs and above the hips

Acromial

point of the shoulder

Antebrachial

forearm

Axillary

armpit

Brachial

upper arm

Buccal

cheek

Calcaneal

heel of the foot

Carpal

wrist

Cephalic

head

Cervical

neck

Coxal

hip

Crural

leg

Digital

fingers or toes

Femoral

thigh

Fibular/Peroneal

side of the leg

Frontal

forehead

Gluteal

buttocks

Hallux

big toe

Inguinal

groin

Lumbar

lower back

Mammary

breast

Manus

hand

Mental

chin

Nasal

nose

Occipital

back of the head

Olecranal

elbow

Antecubital

anterior surface of the elbow

Oral

mouth

Orbital

eye socket

Otic

ear

Palmar

palm of the hand

Patellar

kneecap

Pelvic

pelvis

Pedal

foot

Perineal

between the anus and the external genitalia

Plantar

sole of the foot

Pollex

thumb

Popliteal

back of the knee

Sacral

posterior region between the hip bones

Pubic

genital

Scapular

shoulder blade

Sternal

breastbone

Sural

calf

Tarsal

ankle

Thoracic

chest

Umbilical

navel

Vertebral

spine

Cranial cavity

contains the brain

Vertebral (spinal) cavity

contains the spinal cord

Thoracic cavity

contains heart and lungs

Abdominopelvic cavity

inferior to the diaphragm

Abdominal cavity

contains digestive organs

Pelvic cavity

contains urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum

What are the three cavities within the thoracic cavity?

Pleural cavity

Mediastinum

Pericardial cavity

What two cavities is the dorsal body cavity divided into?

Cranial and vertebral (spinal)

What two cavities is the ventral body cavity divided into?

Thoracic and abdominopelvic

Meninges

Membranes that surround structures in the dorsal body cavity

Serous membranes (serosa)

Membranes that surround structures in the ventral body cavity

What are the two types of serous membranes?

Parietal and visceral serosa

Peritoneum

The serosa lining the abdominal cavity

Pleura

The serosa lining the lungs

Pericardium

The serosa lining the heart

What two organs are in the left upper quadrant?

Stomach and spleen

What are the two organs found in the right lower quadrant?

Appendix and cecum

What organ is divided into identical halves by the median plane?

Urinary bladder

Umbilical region

The centermost region including the umbilical

Epigastric region

Superior to the umbilical region; overlies most of the stomach

Pubic (hypogastric) region

Inferior to the umbilical region; encompasses the pubic area

Inguinal (iliac) regions

Lateral to the pubic region; overlies the superior parts of the hip bones

Lateral (lumbar) region

lateral to the umbilical region; between the ribs and the flaring portions of the hip bones

Hypochondriac region

flanking the pubic region laterally; overlies the lower ribs

Oral cavity (mouth)

contains the tongue and teeth

Nasal cavity

located within and posterior to the nose; part of the passages of the respiratory system

Orbital cavities

house the eyes; present them in an anterior position

Middle ear cavities

medial to the eardrum; contain tiny bones that transmit sound vibrations

Synovial cavities

joint cavities