Anatomical Terms and Directions

acromial

pertaining to the acromion(point of shoulder)

antebrachial

pertaining to the forearm

antecubital

pertaining to the area in front of the elbow

anterior/ventral

toard the from or belly side of body

anteroposterior

passing from front (anterior) toward the back (posterior) of body

axillary

pertaining to armpit

bilateral

pertaining to 2 sides

brachial

pertaining to upper arm

buccal

pertaining to the cheek

calcaneal

pertaining to the heel bone

carpal

pertaining to the wrist

caudal

toward the tailbone

cephalic

pertaining to head, towards head

cephalocaudal

pattern of growth and development that proceeds from the head downward to the feet

cervical

pertaining to the neck

coxal

pertaining to the hip

cranial

pertaining to the skull

crural

pertaining to the leg, specifically the shin bone

cubital

pertaining to the elbow

deep

more internal, further inside the body, away from body surface

digital

pertaining to fingers or toes

distal

situated farther away from the center of the body, trunk, or point where limb attached to body

external

outer part of the body

fermoral

pertaining to the thigh

fibular

refers to the lateral side of lower leg

frontal

pertaining to forehead

genetal

pertaining to reproductive organs

gluteal

pertaining to the buttocks

inferior

positioned below or toward the fel

inguinal

pertaining to the groin

internal

inside the body

lateral

farther away from the midline, toward side of body

left

the left hand side of anatomical position

lumbar

pertaining to the lower back region and the 5 vertebrae between the chest and sacrum

mammary

pertaining to the breast region

medial

toward the midline, or center, of the body

mental

pertaining to the chin

metacarpal

pertaining to hand bones

midline

an imaginary center line splitting he body into right and left halves

nasal

pertaining to nose

occipital

pertaining to the back of head

olecranal

pertaining to the olecranon, or bony tip of the elbow

oral

pertaining to the mouth

orbital

pertaining to the eye or eye socket

otic

pertaining to ear

palmar

pertaining to the palm of the hand

pariental

pertaining to the palm of the hand

pariental

pertaining to the outer wall of a body cavity

patellar

pertaining to the kneecap(patella)

pectoral

pertaining to the chest

perineal

pertaining to the perineum (patch of flesh between the valvula/penis and anus)

plantar

pertaining to the sole or bottom of foot

popliteal

pertaining to the back (hollow) of knee

posterior/dorsal

toward the back or rear of body

posteroanterior

passing from the posterior (back) toward the anterior(front) of body

prone

lying face down with palms downward

proximal

situated nearer to the center of body, trunk, or part where limb attached to the body

pubic

refers to the general region

right

the right hand side of a person in standard anatomical position

right

the right hand side of anatomical position

sacral

pertaining to the triangular bone at the base of the spine

scapular

pertaining to the scapula, or shoulder blades located on the upper back

sternal

pertaining to the sternum(breastbone)

superficial

toward the body surface, closer to the skin

superior

positioned above or higher than another part of the body

supine

lying flat on the back with palms facing forward

sural

relating to or located in the calf

tarsal

pertaining to the ankle

thoracic

pertaining to the chest(thorax)

umbilical

pertains to the navel or belly button

unilateral

pertaining to one side

vertebral

relating to the spine or backbone

visceral

pertaining to the internal organs