Regional and Directional Terms

Regional terms

Words that describe specific regions or locations on the body.

Axial division

Makes up the main axis of the body, includes the head, neck, and trunk.

Appendicular division

Consists of the appendages, or limbs, attached to the body's axis.

Abdominal

Abdomen

Antecubital

Front of the elbow

Axillary

Armpit

Brachial

Arm

Buccal

Cheek

Calcaneal

Heel bone

Carpal

Wrist bone

Cephalic

Head

Cervical

Neck

Coxal

Hip

Digital

Fingers and toes

Femoral

Femur

Gluteal

Glute

Inguinal

Groin

Lumbar

Lower back

Nasal

Nose

Occipital

Back of head

Olecranal

Tip of elbow

Oral

Mouth

Orbital

Eye

Patellar

Patella/kneecap

Pelvic

Pelvis

Popliteal

Back of knee

Sacral

Sacrum

Scapular

Shoulder blade

Sternal

Sternum

Tarsal

Ankle

Thoracic

Chest

Umbilical

Navel area

Vertebral

Spine

Appendicular division

Axial DIvision

Superior (Cranial)

Toward the head

Inferior (Caudal)

Away from the head

Anterior (Ventral)

Toward the front

Posterior (Dorsal)

Toward the back

Medial

Toward the midline

Lateral

Away from the midline

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment

Supericial

Near the surface

Deep

Away from the surface

The head is ___ to the abdomen.

Superior

The stomach is ____ to the heart.

Inferior

The sternum is ____ to the spine

anterior

The heart is ____ to the sternum

posterior

The nose is ___ to the eyes.

medial

The arms are ___ to the chest.

lateral

The elbow is ___ to he wrist.

proximal

The fingers are ___ to the elbow.

distal

The skin is ___ to the muscles.

superficial

The bones are ___ to the muscles.

deep