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Biol 211 Chapter 1: The Human Body - Orientation and Regional Terms

Orientation and Directional Terms

  • Right and Left refer to the patient/model/specimen’s right and left sides, not your own right and left.
  • Directional terms in anatomy are defined relative to the patient/model; i.e., orientation is from the perspective of the individual being studied.

Regional Divisions of the Body

  • Two major divisions:
    • Axial = head, neck, and trunk (the axis of the body)
    • Appendicular = limbs (arms and legs; the appendages of the body)
  • Regional terms designate specific areas within these body divisions.

Regional Terms: Overview and Examples

  • Cephalic (head region) terms include:
    • Frontal, Orbital, Nasal, Oral, Mental, Buccal
  • Thorax and related trunk regions include:
    • Thorax, Axillary, Mammary, Sternal
  • Abdominal and related regions include:
    • Abdominal, Umbilical, Pelvic, Inguinal (groin)
  • Cervical and Pubic regions include:
    • Cervical, Pubic (genital)
  • Anterior/Ventral is used to describe the front surface orientation for these regions.

Upper Limb Regions

  • Acromial (shoulder)
  • Brachi(al) (upper arm)
  • Antecubital (anterior elbow)
  • Antebrachial (forearm)
  • Carpal (wrist)
  • Manus (hand)
  • Palmar (palm surface)
  • Pollex (thumb)
  • Digital (fingers)

Lower Limb Regions

  • Coxal (hip)
  • Femoral (thigh)
  • Patellar (kneecap)
  • Crural (leg/shin)
  • Fibular / Peroneal (fibula area; lateral leg)
  • Pedal (foot)
  • Tarsal (ankle)
  • Metatarsal (foot bones between ankle and toes)
  • Digital (toes)
  • Hallux (big toe)

Palmar and Dorsal Surfaces of the Hand

  • Palmar surface (palm of the hand)
  • Dorsal surface (back of the hand)
  • Thenar region (thumb side of the palm)
  • Hypothenar region (little finger side of the palm)
  • Anatomical Snuffbox (depression on the dorsum of the hand at the base of the thumb)

Posterior/Dorsal View and Related Regions

  • Posterior/Dorsal refers to the back side of the body.
  • Upper limb regions (posterior view):
    • Acromial, Brachial (arm), Olecranal (cubital; back of elbow), Antebrachial (forearm), Manus (hand), Metacarpal, Digital
  • Lower limb regions (posterior view):
    • Femoral (thigh), Popliteal (knee pit), Sural (calf), Fibular / Peroneal (lateral leg), Pedal (foot), Calcaneal (heel), Plantar (sole)
  • Back (Dorsum) is the posterior surface of the trunk

Posterior/Dorsal and Back Surface Terms (Expanded)

  • Back (dorsal) is a broad term covering the posterior aspect of the trunk.
  • Scapular region (shoulder blade area)
  • Vertebral (spinal) column region
  • Lumbar and Sacral regions contribute to the lower back
  • Gluteal region (buttocks)
  • Perineal region (between the anus and external genitalia)
  • Otic (ear) and Occipital (back of the head) are regional terms near the head and neck

Additional Cephalic and Dorsal References

  • Cephalic region terms can also appear with dorsal/occipital references depending on the view:
    • Back (dorsum) of the head, occipital region, and related terms
  • The Back (Dorsum) term is reiterated across views to indicate the posterior surface of the trunk

Summary of Key Regional Groupings

  • Axial region: head, neck, trunk (includes cephalic, cervical, thoracic, abdominal, umbilical, pelvic, etc.)
  • Appendicular region: upper and lower limbs (involving acromial, brachial, antecubital, antebrachial, carpal, metacarpal, digital, hallux, etc.)
  • Surface orientation terms: palmar (palm), dorsal (back of hand/foot), thenar, hypothenar, anatomical snuffbox
  • Specific notable regional terms and their common meanings:
    • Hallux = big toe
    • Pollex = thumb
    • Patellar = kneecap
    • Crural = lower leg/shin
    • Coxal = hip
    • Pedal = foot
    • Tarsal = ankle
    • Umbilical = navel
    • Inguinal = groin
    • Axillary = armpit
    • Mammary = breast
    • Olfactory and other sensory-related terms are not listed in this transcript, but Otic relates to the ear and Occipital to the back of the head for head region references.

Practical Applications and Significance

  • Using patient-centered directional terms ensures consistent communication in anatomy, medicine, and biology.
  • Distinguishing anterior/ventral from posterior/dorsal, as well as proximal/distal and medial/lateral (where applicable), helps in accurate localization and description of injuries, procedures, and anatomical relationships.
  • Regional terminology supports precise documentation in clinical notes, radiology, dissections, and academic learning.

Notes on Terminology Consistency

  • Many terms have clean synonyms (e.g., Antecubital for the front of the elbow, Antebrachial for the forearm).
  • Some terms describe surfaces (palmar vs dorsal) rather than regions alone, which is important for describing wounds, muscle attachments, and clinical assessments.
  • The list provided covers a comprehensive set of common regional terms used in introductory human anatomy.

Quick Reference List (selected terms)

  • Right/Left: patient-relative orientation
  • Axial: head, neck, trunk
  • Appendicular: limbs
  • Cephalic, Frontal, Orbital, Nasal, Oral, Mental, Buccal
  • Thorax, Axillary, Mammary, Sternal
  • Abdominal, Umbilical, Pelvic, Inguinal
  • Cervical, Pubic
  • Acromial, Brachial, Antecubital, Antebrachial, Carpal, Manus, Palmar, Pollex, Digital
  • Coxal, Femoral, Patellar, Crural, Fibular/Peroneal, Pedal, Tarsal, Metatarsal, Hallux, Digital
  • Palmar, Dorsal, Thenar, Hypothenar, Anatomical Snuffbox
  • Back (Dorsum), Scapular, Vertebral, Lumbar, Sacral, Gluteal, Perineal, Otic, Occipital, Cephalic
  • Olecranal, Popliteal, Sural, Calcaneal, Plantar