Anatomical Landmarks, Directions, Planes, and Body Cavities

Vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical landmarks, directional terminology, anatomical planes, and body cavities derived from lecture notes.

Anatomical position

A posture where a body is standing with feet together, hands at sides, and palms facing forward.

Supine

Lying down in anatomical position face up.

Prone

Lying down in anatomical position face down.

Cephalon (cephalic)

The whole head.

Cranium (cranial)

Skull.

Forehead (frontal)

Forehead.

Eye (orbital or ocular)

Eye.

Cheek (buccal)

Cheek.

Ear (otic)

Ear.

Nasus (nasal)

Nasal / nose.

Oris (oral)

Mouth.

Mentis (mental)

Chin.

Cervicis (cervical)

Neck.

Thoracis (thoracic)

Chest.

Axilla (axillary)

Armpit.

Mamma (mammary)

Breast.

Brachiums (brachial)

Upper arm.

Antecubitis (antecubital)

Front of elbow.

Antebrachium (antebrachial)

Forearm.

Manus (manual)

Hand.

Carpus (carpal)

Wrist.

Pollex

Thumb.

Digits (digital or phalangeal)

Fingers or toes.

Umbilicus (umbilical)

Belly button.

Groin (inguinal)

Where your legs attach to the body.

Thigh (femoral)

Thigh.

Patella (patellar)

Knees.

Leg (crural)

Shins.

Tarsus (tarsal)

Ankle.

Hallux

Big toe.

Pes (pedal)

Feet.

Shoulder (acromial)

Shoulder.

Dorsam (dorsal)

Back (upper).

Olecranon (olecranal)

Back of elbow.

Loin (lumbar)

Lower back.

Gluteus (gluteal)

Butt.

Popliteus (popliteal)

Back of knee.

Calf (sural)

Calf.

Scapula (r)

Shoulder blade.

Calcaneous (calcaneal)

Heel.

Planta (Plantar)

Bottom of foot.

Anterior

Front side.

Ventral

Belly side.

Posterior

Back side.

Dorsal

Back.

Superior

Above (or higher level).

Inferior

Below.

Medial

Middle; towards long axis.

Lateral

Out (away); from long axis.

Proximal

Closer to an attached base.

Distal

Farther away from an attached base.

Superficial

Close to the surface.

Deep

Farther away from the surface.

Sagittal plane

Plane that runs along the long axis, extends from front to back, and divides the body into right and left.

Frontal plane (coronal plane)

Plane that goes along the long axis and divides the body into anatomical anterior and posterior sections.

Transverse plane

Plane at right angles to the long axis that divides the body into superior and inferior sections.

Ventral Body Cavity (coelom)

Cavity that contains digestive, reproductive, and cardiovascular systems; divided by the diaphragm into thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Thoracic cavity

Superior part of the ventral body cavity enclosed by the ribs.

Abdominopelvic cavity

Inferior part of the ventral body cavity enclosed by the abdominal wall and the pelvis.

Dorsal body cavity

Any cavity in the back that contains the brain and spinal cord.