Anatomical Terminology

anatomical position

To stand erect with arms at the sides and palms of the hands turned forward

Superior

above

Inferior

below

superficial

near the surface

deep

Away from the body surface; more internal

Medial

Toward the midline of the body

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body

Anterior

front of the body

Posterior

back of body

Proximal

Closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

Distal

farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

Dorsal

pertaining to the back

Ventral

pertaining to the front

sagittal plane

divides body into left and right

coronal plane

divides body into front and back

transverse plane

divides body into top and bottom

frontal region

forehead

cranial region

head/skull

orbital/ocular region

eye

buccal region

cheek

auricle or otic region

ear

nasal region

nose

oral region

mouth

mental region

chin

cervical region

neck

thoratic region

chest

mammary region

breast

pectoral region

muscles of the chest

sternal region

sternum

abdominal region

stomach

umbilicus

navel, belly button

coxal region

hip

pubic region

genitals

inguinal region

groin

femoral region

thigh

patellar region

knee

crural region

shin

tarsal region

ankle

pedal region

foot

digital/phalangeal region

fingers, toes

hallux

big toe

axillary region

armpit

brachial region

upper arm

antecubital region

front of elbow

antebrachial region

forearm

carpal region

wrist

palmar region

palm

pollex

thumb

lumbar region

lower back

sacral region

end of spine, directly above buttocks

cephalic region

head

acromial region

shoulder bones

gluteal region

buttocks

sural region

calf

calcaneal region

heel

plantar region

sole of foot

popliteal region

back of knee

cranial cavity

contains the brain

vertebral canal

contains the spinal cord

Mediastinum

space between the lungs

pleural cavity

contains the lungs

pericardial cavity

contains the heart

Diaphragm

Large, flat muscle at the bottom of the chest cavity that helps with breathing

abdominal cavity

Contains stomach, intestines, spleen, and liver, and other organs

pelvic cavity

Contains urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum

abdominopelvic cavity

abdominal cavity and pelvic cavity

ventral cavity

thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity

thoratic cavity

contains heart and lungs

dorsal cavity

includes the cranial and spinal cavities.

nervous system includes

brain and spinal cord

integumentary system functions

protect tissues, regulate temp

integumentary system includes

skin, hair, nails

skeletal system includes

bones and ligaments

skeletal system function

support

muscular system function

movement

muscular system includes

muscles

urinary system functions

filters waste

urinary system contains

kidney and bladder

respiratory system includes

lungs

respiratory system function

brings oxygen to blood

circulatory system functions

transports blood

circulatory system includes

heart, blood, blood vessels

digestive system includes

esophagus and stomach

digestive system function

breaks down food

reproductive system includes

ovaries/testes

endocrine system includes

pituitary gland

endocrine system function

controls hormones