anatomy terms

Dorsal Pertaining to the back; from Latin dorsum “back” Ventral Pertaining to the belly; from Latin venter “belly” Caudal Pertaining to the tail; from Latin cauda “tail” Cranial Pertaining to the skull; from Latin cranium “skull” Lateral Pertaining to the side; from Latin lateralis “belonging to the side” Rostral Pertaining to the nose; from Latin rostrum “beak/nose” Proxim- Near or close; ex. Proximal, proximity Dist- Far; ex. Distal, distance Palm- Palm of the hand; ex. Palmar, palmate Medi- Middle; ex. Median Sagitta- Arrow; ex. Sagittal Trans- Across; ex. Transverse Plant- Sole of the foot; ex. plantar Intern- Situated to the interior; ex. internal Extern- Situated to the outside; ex. external Flex- To bend; ex. Flexion, flexible Exten- Stretch out, straighten; ex. extension Ab- Away from, separation; ex. Abduct Ad- Addition to, toward; ex. Adduct Circum- Around, literally “in a circle”; ex. Circumduction Rota- Turn in a circle; ex. Rotate Sub- Under, beneath, behind; ex. subcutaneous Supin- Bend back; ex. Supinate: paw/hoof/foot faces up Pron- Bend forward; ex. Pronate: paw/hoof/foot faces down Hypo- Under, beneath, less than; ex. Hypoallergenic, hypodermic Hyper- Over, above, excessive; ex. Hypertrophy, hyperactive Intra- Within, inside; ex. intravenous Ecto- Outer, outside; ex. Ectoderm Endo- Inner, inside; ex. Endosteum, endoplasmic reticulum Poly- Many; ex. polydactyly Meso- Middle, intermediate; ex. Mesoderm, mesothelioma -osis Condition, esp. disease; ex. Endometriosis -duct Course or direction; ex. Abduct, circumduction -itis Inflammation; ex. laminitis -philic Loving or liking; ex. hydrophilic -phobic Fearing or hating; ex. hydrophobic -ectomy To cut out; ex. Appendectomy -otomy To cut into; ex. tracheotomy