Anatomical Terminology and Body Systems

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering body system roots, directional terminology, anatomical planes, and specific body regions based on lecture notes.

os-, oste-, arth-

Root or word fragments meaning bone, joint

myo-, sarco-

Root or word fragments meaning muscle, striated muscle

derm-

Root or word fragment meaning skin

neur-

Root or word fragment meaning nerve

aden-, estr-

Root or word fragments meaning gland, steroid

card- angi-, hema-, vaso-

Root or word fragments meaning heart (muscle), vessel, blood vessels

pulmon-, bronch-

Root or word fragments meaning lung, windpipe

gastr-, enter-, dent-, hepat-

Root or word fragments meaning stomach, intestine, teeth, liver

ren-, neph-, ur-

Root or word fragments meaning kidney, urinary

lymph-, leuk-, -itis

Root or word fragments meaning lymph, white, inflammation

andr-, uter-

Root or word fragments meaning male, uterine

Anterior/ventral

Front, or toward the front of the body

Posterior/dorsal

Back, or toward the back of the body

Medial

Toward the middle of the body

Lateral

On the side or toward the side of the body

Proximal

Nearer to the point of attachment or the trunk of the body

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment or the trunk of the body (think “distance”)

Superficial

Nearer to the surface of the body

Deep

Farther from the surface of the body

Superior/cranial

Above or higher than another part

Inferior/caudal

Below or lower than another part

Frontal plane

Divides the body or organ into anterior and posterior portions — think front and back

Sagittal plane

Divides the body or organ lengthwise into right and left sections

Midsagittal plane

A vertical plane that runs exactly down the middle of the body

Transverse plane

Divides the body or organ horizontally, into superior and inferior portions — think top and bottom

Cephalic

Head

Cervical

Neck

Cranial

Skull

Frontal (Region)

Forehead

Nasal

Nose

Occipital

Base of skull

Oral

Mouth

Orbital/ocular

Eyes

Axillary

Armpit

Costal

Ribs

Deltoid

Shoulder

Mammary

Breast

Pectoral

Chest

Scapular

Shoulder blade

Sternal

Breastbone

Vertebral

Backbone

Abdominal

Abdomen

Gluteal

Buttocks

Inguinal

Bend of hip

Lumbar

Lower back; also forms the region to the right and left of the umbilical region

Pelvic

Area between hipbones

Perineal

Area between anus and external genitalia

Pubic

Genitals

Sacral

End of vertebral column

Antebrachial

Forearm

Antecubital

Inner elbow

Brachial

Upper arm

Carpal

Wrist

Cubital

Elbow

Digital

Fingers/toes

Manual

Hand

Palmar

Palm

Crural

Shin, front of lower leg

Femoral

Thigh

Patellar

Front of knee

Pedal

Foot

Plantar

Arch of foot

Popliteal

Back of knee

Sural

Calf, back of lower leg

Tarsal

Ankle

Epigastric

The central part of the abdomen, just above the navel

Hypochondriac

The region that lies to the right and left of the epigastric region and just below the cartilage of the rib cage (chondral means “cartilage,” and hypo- means “below”)

Umbilical

The area around the umbilicus

Hypogastric

Below the stomach and in the central part of the abdomen, just below the navel

Iliac

The region that lies to the right and left of the hypogastric regions near the hipbones