Chapter 4: Anatomical terminology

abdomin/o

abdomen

anter/o

front (of body) (a)

brachi/o

arm

caud/o

tail

cephal/o

head (word root) c

cervic/o

neck, cervix

chondr/o

cartilage

crani/o

skull

cubit/o

elbow

dist/o

away from (beginning of structure)

dors/o

back (of body) (d)

femor/o

femur (thigh bone)

gastr/o

stomach

genit/o

genitals

glute/o

buttocks

ili/o

ilium (part of pelvis)

infer/o

below (word root)

inguin/o

groin

later/o

side

lumb/o

low back

medi/o

middle

nas/o

nose (word root)

or/o

mouth

orbit/o

eye socket

ot/o

ear

patell/o

patella (kneecap)

pelv/o

pelvis

poster/o

back (of body)

proxim/o

near to (beginning of structure)

scapul/o

scapula (shoulder blade)

spin/o

spine

stern/o

sternum (breast bone)

super/o

above (word root)

thorac/o

chest

ventr/o

belly (surface of body)

vertebr/o

vertebra (backbone)

-ac

pertaining to (2 letters, iac without one of them)

-al

pertaining to (who is “Big A-”) 2 letters

-ar

pertaining to (car without 1 letter)

-iac

pertaining to (3 letters ends in ac)

-ic

pertaining to (girls get the ick 2 letters)

-ior

pertaining to (ends in or has 3 letters)

ante-

in front of, before (prefix)

epi-

above (prefix)

hypo-

below, insufficient (prefix)

retro-

backward, behind (prefix)

anterior

front side of body

caudal

toward tail/lower body

cephalic

pertaining to the head

deep

further below the surface

distal

away from trunk

dorsal

toward back (d)

inferior

below (full word with suffix)

lateral

to the side

medial

toward midline

posterior

toward back (P) full word with suffix

prone

lying face down

proximal

near to trunk

superficial

nearer the surface

superior

above (full word with suffix)

supine

lying face up

ventral

toward belly

abdominal

pertaining to abdomen

antecubital

pertaining to inner elbow

axillary

underarm area

brachial

pertaining to arm

cervical

pertaining to neck

cranial

pertaining to skull

femoral

pertaining to thigh

genital

pertaining to genitals

gluteal

pertaining to buttocks

inguinal

pertaining to groin

lower extremity

entire leg

nasal

pertaining to nose

orbital

pertaining to eye socket

oral

pertaining to mouth

otic

pertaining to ear

palmar

palm of hand

patellar

pertaining to kneecap

pelvic

pertaining to pelvis

plantar

sole of foot

popliteal

back of knee

scapular

pertaining to shoulder blade

sternal

pertaining to sternum

thoracic

pertaining to chest

trunk

torso, excluding head and extremities

umbilical

region around navel

upper extremity

entire arm

vertebral

pertaining to spine (v)

cranial cavity

dorsal cavity within skull, contains brain

spinal cavity

dorsal cavity within vertebrae, contains spinal cord

thoracic cavity

ventral cavity in chest, contains lungs, heart, etc.

mediastinum

central thoracic cavity region with heart, trachea, esophagus

pleural cavities

lateral thoracic cavities containing lungs

abdominal cavity

ventral cavity with stomach, liver, intestines, etc.

pelvic cavity

ventral cavity with bladder, reproductive organs

retroperitoneal

location of kidneys behind peritoneum

RUQ

liver (right lobe), gallbladder, right kidney, portions of intestines

RLQ

appendix, right ovary/tube (female), right ureter, portions of intestines

LUQ

stomach, spleen, pancreas (majority), left kidney, portions of intestines