EXSC 440 Advanced Musculoskeletal Anatomy Terminology

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering general terminology, body regions, bone terminology, fundamental movements and planes, word roots, prefixes, and suffixes from the notes.

Anterior

Front of the body.

Posterior

Back of the body.

Ventral

Front of the body (anterior in humans).

Dorsal

Back of the body (posterior in humans).

Proximal

Closer to the trunk.

Distal

Away from the trunk; toward the end of a limb.

Lateral

Away from the midline; toward the side.

Medial

Nearer to the midline.

Superior

Upper or above.

Inferior

Lower or below.

Superficial

Near the surface.

Deep

Situated far beneath the surface.

Plantar

Sole of the foot.

Palmar

Palm of the hand.

Dorsum

Top of the foot.

Volar

Relating to the palm of the hand or sole of the foot.

Bilateral

Present on both sides.

Symmetrical

The same on both sides.

Asymmetrical

Not the same on both sides.

Supine

Lying face up.

Prone

Lying face down.

Cranial

Toward the head.

Caudal

Toward the tail.

Rostral

Near the front of the body (often the nose/brow).

Transverse

Perpendicular to the long axis; a crosswise plane.

Longitudinal

Parallel to the long axis.

Horizontal

Parallel to the plane of the horizon.

Abdominal

Region inferior to the thorax and superior to the hip bones.

Antebrachial

Forearm; region distal to the elbow, proximal to the wrist.

Antecubital

Anterior elbow (cubital region).

Auricular

Ear.

Axillary

Armpit.

Brachial

Region of the arm distal to the shoulder and proximal to the elbow.

Buccal

Cheek.

Calcaneal

Heel of the foot.

Carpal

Wrist.

Cephalic

Head.

Cervical

Neck.

Coxal

Hip.

Cranial

Skull.

Crural

Region of the leg distal to the knee and proximal to the ankle (lower leg).

Deltoid

Shoulder region.

Digital

Fingers or toes (phalangeal).

Dorsal

Back.

Femoral

Thigh.

Fibular

Lateral aspect of the crural leg (fibula side).

Frontal

Forehead.

Gluteal

Buttock.

Hallux

Great toe.

Inguinal

Groin; junction of thigh and trunk.

Lumbar

Back region inferior to ribs and superior to pelvis.

Mammary

Breast.

Manus

Hand.

Mental

Chin.

Nasal

Nose.

Occipital

Posterior aspect of the head.

Olecranal

Posterior elbow.

Oral

Mouth.

Orbital

Eye.

Palmar

Palm of the hand.

Parietal

Relating to the parietal bones; upper side of the skull.

Patellar

Kneecap.

Pectoral

Lateral region of the anterior thorax; chest area.

Pelvic

Pelvis; area inferior to the umbilicus and superior to the legs.

Perineal

Region between the thighs containing the anus and external genitalia.

Pes

Foot.

Pollex

Thumb.

Popliteal

Posterior knee.

Pubic

Anterior pelvis.

Radial

Lateral forearm (antebrachium).

Sacral

Posterior aspect of the medial pelvis.

Scapular

Shoulder blade.

Sternal

Anterior medial thorax.

Sural

Calf; posterior region of the leg between knee and ankle.

Tarsal

Root of the foot; proximal region of the foot.

Temporal

Lateral head.

Thoracic

Chest or thorax.

Tibial

Anterior and medial aspect of the crural leg (shin).

Ulnar

Medial forearm (antebrachium).

Umbilical

Navel.

Vertebral

Spinal column; pertaining to vertebrae.

Angle

A projecting or sharp corner.

Border

The outer part or edge.

Canal

A narrow tubular channel or passageway.

Condyle

Large smooth rounded process for articulation.

Crest/Ridge

An elongated prominence.

Epicondyle

Smaller condyle or process above a condyle.

Facet

Smaller nearly flat articular surface.

Fissure

A narrow slit or cleft.

Foramen

Hole or opening in a bone for vessels or nerves.

Fossa

Shallow depression.

Fovea

Rounded depression or pit.

Groove

Elongated depression or furrow.

Head

Enlargement on the end of a bone, often rounded.

Line

Less prominent ridge.

Linea

A narrow ridge.

Meatus

Tube-like passageway within a bone.

Notch

Indentation in a bone, often deep at the edge.

Process

Prominent projection on a bone.

Ramus

A branch/structure given off from a larger one.