The Language of Anatomy

Anatomical Position

body standing at attention, with feet parallel and the arms hanging at the sides with the palms facing forward, head facing forward.

Superior

toward the upper part of a structure or above

Inferior

toward the lower part of a structure of below

Ventral

belly side; in bipeds this is the same as the "front" side; in quadripeds this is the same as below or towards the bottom.

Dorsal

pertaining to the back; in bipeds this is the same as "behind"; in quadripeds this is the same as "towards the top"

Medial

toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of

Lateral

away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of

Proximal

close 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

Superficial (external)

toward or at the body surface

Acromial

point of shoulder

Antebrachial

forearm

Antecubital

anterior surface of elbow

Axillary

armpit

Brachial

arm

Buccal

cheek area

Carpal

wrist

Cervical

Neck

Frontal

Forehead

Mental

Chin

Oral

Mouth

Orbital

Eye

Sternal

area of breastbone in center of chest

Thoracic

pertaining to the chest

Umbilical

Belly button

Pelvic

Below abdomen; from one hip to another

Inguinal

area where thigh meets body trunk; groin

Pubic

genital region

Digital

Fingers and toes

Femoral

thigh

Patellar

anterior knee

peroneal

lateral part of leg

Crural

leg (shin)

Cephalic

head

Occipital

posterior surface of head or base of skull

Scapular

shoulder blade region

Vertebral

area of spinal column

Lumbar

area of back between ribs and hips

Sacral

lower back area between hips

Olecranal

posterior surface of elbow

Calcaneal

heel of foot

Popliteal

posterior knee area

Sural

posterior surface of leg; the calf

Plantar

Bottom of foot

Otic

pertaining to the ear

Anatomy

the study of the structure and shape of the body and its parts and their relationships to one another

perineal

region between the anus and external genitalia

acromial

point of shoulder

Physiology

the study of how the body and its parts work or function

Homeostasis

the body's ability to maintain relatively stable internal conditions even though the outside world is continuously changing

Sagittal Section

cut along the lengthwise or longitudinal, plane of the body, dividing the body into right and left parts

Midsagittal Section

dividing body into equal left and right parts

Frontal Section (Coronal Section)

cut along a lengthwise plane that divides the body (or an organ) into anterior and posterior parts

Transverse Section (cross section)

a cut along a horizontal plane, dividing the body or organ into superior and inferior parts

Dorsal Body Cavity

two subdivisions: cranial cavity; spinal cavity

Ventral Body Cavity

contains all structures within the chest and abdomen, divided into thoracic cavity and the abdominopelvic cavity (separated by diaphragm)

mammary

breast region

cranial

in bipeds this is the same as towards the top (or above); in quadripeds this is the same as towards the front.

caudal

toward the tail; in bipeds this is the same as towards the feet or below; in quadripeds this is the same as "behind"

Anterior

towards the front; in bipeds this is the same as the belly side. In quadripeds this is the same as towards the head.

Posterior

in bipeds this is the same as "dorsal"; in quadripeds it refers to "behind" the animal.

Deep

Away from the body surface; more internal

Abdominal

anterior body trunk inferior to ribs

Palmar

pertaining to the palm of the hand

Coxal

pertaining to the hip

pedal

pertaining to the foot

hallux

great toe (big toe)

Pollex

pertaining to the thumb

Tarsal

ankle region

manus

pertaining to the hand

Gluteal

pertaining to the buttocks