Anatomical Terms

Acromial:

Pertaining to the acromion (point of the shoulder)

Antebrachial:

Pertaining to the forearm

Antecubital:

Pertaining to the area in front of the elbow

Anterior (Ventral):

Toward the front or belly-side of the body

Anteroposterior:

Passing from the anterior (front) toward the posterior (back) of the body

Axillary:

Pertaining to the armpit

Bilateral:

Pertaining the two sides

Brachial:

Pertaining to the upper arm

Buccal:

Pertaining to the cheek

Calcaneal:

Pertaining to the heel bone

Carpal:

Pertaining to the wrist

Caudal:

Toward the tailbone

Cephalic:

Pertaining to the head, toward the head

Cephalocaudal:

Pattern of growth and development that proceeds from the head downward to the feet

Cervical:

Pertaining to the neck

Coxal:

Pertaining to the hip

Cranial:

Pertaining to the skull

Crural:

Pertaining to the leg, specifically the shin bone

Cubital:

Pertaining to the elbow

Deep:

More internal, further inside the body, away from the body surface

Digital:

Pertaining to the fingers or toes

Distal:

Situated farther away from the center of the body, the trunk, or the point where a limb attaches to the body

External:

Outer part of the body

Femoral:

Pertaining to the thigh

Fibular:

Refers to the lateral side of the lower leg

Frontal:

Pertaining to the forehead

Genital:

Pertaining to the reproductive organs

Gluteal:

Pertaining to the buttocks

Inferior:

Positioned below or toward the feet

Inguinal:

Pertaining to the groin

Internal:

Inside the body

Lateral:

Farther away from the midline, toward the side of the body

Left:

Left-hand side of a person in standard anatomical position

Lumbar:

Pertaining to the low back region and the 5 vertebrae between the chest and sacrum

Mammary:

Pertaining to the breast region

Medial:

Toward the midline, or center, of the body

Mental:

Pertaining to the chin

Metacarpal:

Pertaining to the hand bones

Midline:

An imaginary center line splitting the body into right and left halves

Nasal:

Pertaining to the nose

Occipital:

Pertaining to the back of the head

Olecranal:

Pertaining to the olecranon, or the bony tip/pointy part of the elbow

Oral:

Pertaining to the mouth

Orbital:

Pertaining to the eye or eye socket

Otic:

Pertaining to the ear

Palmar:

Pertaining to the palm of the hand

Parietal:

Pertaining to the outer wall of a body cavity

Patellar:

Pertaining to the kneecap (patella)

Pectoral:

Pertaining to the chest

Perineal:

Pertaining to the perineum (the patch of flesh between the penis or vulva and anus)

Plantar:

Pertaining to the sole or bottom surface of the foot

Popliteal:

Pertaining to the back (hollow) of the knee

Posterior (Dorsal):

Toward the back or rear side of the body

Posteroanterior:

Passing from the posterior (back) toward the anterior (front) of the body

Prone:

Lying face down with palms downward

Proximal:

Situated nearer to the center of the body, the trunk, or the point where a limb attaches to the body

Pubic:

Refers to the genital region

Right:

Right-hand side of a person in standard anatomical position

Sacral:

Pertaining to the triangular bone at the base of the spine

Scapular:

Pertaining to the scapula, or shoulder blades located on the upper back

Sternal:

Pertaining to the sternum (breastbone)

Superficial:

Toward the body surface, closer to the skin

Superior:

Positioned above or higher than another part of the body

Supine:

Lying flat on the back with palms facing upward

Sural:

Relating to or located in the calf

Tarsal:

Pertaining to the ankle

Thoracic:

Pertaining to the chest (thorax)

Umbilical:

Pertains to the navel or belly button

Unilateral:

Pertaining one side

Vertebral:

Relating to the spine or backbone

Visceral:

Pertaining to the internal organs