human body systems directional and regional terms

Superficial wound

shallow

Deep wound

inside, deep

Anterior

front of the body; aka ventral

Posterior

back of the body; aka dorsal

Anatomical

body facing forwards, hands up

Distal

pertains to distance, the furthest from a point

Proximal

close, proximity; the closest to a point

Inferior

below

Superior

above

Medial

middle of the body

Lateral

sides of the body

Axial

core of the body (skull, spine, ribcage)

Appendicular

appendages (arms, legs, collarbone)

Abdominal

abdomen, between chest and pelvis

Antecubital

triangular hollow space located on the front side of the elbow

Axillary

armpit area

Brachial

relating to the arm

Buccal

cheek or inside of the mouth

Calcaneal

heel bone

Carpal

wrist area

Cephalic

directed towards the head

Cervical

neck region

Coxal

hip bone

Digital

fingers or toes

Femoral

femur or thigh

Gluteal

butt area

Inguinal

groin area

Lumbar

lower back region

Nasal

nose area

Occipital

back and lower part of head/skull

Olecranal

back of the elbow

Oral

mouth

Orbital

eye socket

Patellar

kneecap

Pelvic

between abdomen and thighs

Popliteal

back of knee joint

Sacral

base of the spine

Scapular

shoulder blade

Sternal

connected to the sternum (breastbone in the middle of the chest)

Tarsal

related to the tarsus, a group of seven bones that form the ankle and hindfoot

Umbilical

belly button

Vertebral

relates to the vertebra, or spinal column (in the middle of the thoracic spinal column)

Thoracic

chest region