THE LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY
1. Visible describe or demonstrate anatomical position
2. Use proper anatomical terminology to describe body
directions, surfaces, and body planes.
3. Locate the major body cavities, list the chief organs in each
cavity
ANATOMICAL
POSITION
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An initial reference point
The body is erect
Feet parallel
Arms hanging at sides
Palms facing forward
Uncomfortable
Directional Terms
 Allow medical personnel and anatomist to explain
exactly where one body structure is in relation to
another.
 Describe the location of the ears in relation to the nose
 The ears are to the right and left of the nose
 The ears are lateral to the nose
Directional Terms
Superior/ Inferior
Term
Definition
Example
Superior
(cranial or
cephalad)
Toward the
head end or
upper part of
the body;
above
The forehead
is superior to
the nose
Inferior
(caudal)
Away from the The naval is
head end or
inferior to the
toward the
breastbone
lower part of a
structure of
the body:
below
Directional Terms
Ventral (anterior)/
Dorsal (posterior)
Term
Definition
Example
Ventral
(anterior)
Toward or at
the front of the
body; in front
of
The breastbone
(sternum) is
anterior to the
spine
Dorsal
(posterior)
Toward or at
the backside of
the body;
behind
The heart is
posterior to
the breast
bone
Directional Terms
Medial/ Lateral
Term
Definition
Example
Medial
Toward or at
The heart is
the midline of
medial to the
the body; on
arm
the inner side of
Lateral
Away from the
midline of the
body; on the
outer side of
The arms are
lateral to the
chest
Intermediate
Between a
more medial
and a more
lateral structure
The collarbone
is intermediate
between the
breastbone and
the shoulder
Directional Terms
Proximal/ Distal
Term
Definition
Example
Proximal
Close to the origin
of the body part or
the point of
attachment of a
limb to the body
trunk
The elbow is
proximal to the
wrist (meaning
that the elbow is
closer to the
shoulder or
attachment point
of the arm than
the wrist)
Distal
Farther from the
The knee is distal
origin of a body
to the thigh
part or the point of
attachment of a
limb to the body
trunk
Directional Terms
Superficial (external)/
Deep (internal)
Term
Definition
Example
Superficial
(external)
Toward or at
the body
surface
The skin is
superficial to
the skeleton
Deep
(internal)
Away from the
body surface;
more internal
The lungs are
deep to the rib
cage
REGIONAL TERMS
Anterior Body Landmarks
 Abdominal/ Umbilical: anterior
body trunk inferior to the ribs
 Acromial: point of the shoulder
 Antebrachial: forearm
 Antecubital: anterior surface
 Axillary: armpit
 Brachial: arm (upper)
 Buccal: cheek
 Carpal: wrist
 Cervical: neck region
 Coxal: hip
 Crural: leg
 Deltoid: curve of the shoulder
formed by the deltoid muscle
 Digital: fingers, toes
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Femoral: thigh
Fibular: lateral part of the leg
Frontal: forehead
Inguinal: area where thigh
meets body trunk; groin
Mental: chin
Nasal: nose area
Oral: mouth
Orbital: eye area
Patellar: anterior knee
Pelvic: area overlying the pelvis
anteriorly
Pubic: genital region
Sternal: breast bone area
Tarsal: ankle region
Thoracic: chest
Umbilical: naval
REGIONAL TERMS
Posterior Body Landmarks
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Calcaneal: heel of foot
Cephalic: head
Femoral: thigh
Gluteal: buttock
Lumbar: area of back between
the ribs and hips; the loin
 Occipital: Posterior surface of
the head or base of the skull
 Olecranal: posterior surface of
the elbow
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Plantar: sole of the foot
Popliteal: posterior knee area
Sacral: area between the hips
Scapular: shoulder blade
region
 Sural: the posterior surface of
the leg: the calf
 Vertebral: area of spinal
column
REGIONAL TERMS
BODY PLANES
AND SECTIONS
• A plane is an imaginary line on the body.
• Sections
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Sagittal – a cut a long the lengthwise or longitudinal, dividing the body into right and left parts (parasagittal)
Median, or Midsagittal – a cut down the median of the body that spits the body into equal right and left halves
Frontal/ Coronal – a cut along a lengthwise plane that divides the body or organ into anterior or posterior parts
Transverse / Cross– a cut along a horizontal plane, dividing the body into superior and inferior parts
BODY CAVITIES
Dorsal
 Has 2 subdivisions
 Cranial cavity - brain
 Spinal cavity - spine
Ventral
 Has 2 subdivisions
 Separated by the diphragm
 Thoracic cavity
 lungs & heart
 protected by the rib cage
 Lungs are separated by the
mediastinum
 Heart , trachea, visceral organs
 Abdominopelvic cavity
 Abdominal cavity
 Stomach
 Liver
 Intestines
 Pelvic cavity
 Reproductive organs
 Bladder
 Rectum
ABDOMINOPOELVIC CAVITY
QUADRANTS
 The abdominopelvic cavity is
divided into 4 quadrants
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RUQ – right upper quadrant
RLQ – right lower quadrant
LUQ – left upper quadrant
LLQ – left lower quadrant
9 ABDOMINOPELVIC REGIONS
 UMBILICAL
Centermost region, deep to and
surrounding the umbilicus (navel)
 EPIGASTRIC
Superior to the umbilical region
 HYPOGASTRIC (PUBIC)
Inferior to the umbilical region
 RT. & LT. ILIAC or INGUINAL
Lateral to the hypogastric region
 RT. & LT. LUMBER
Lateral to the umbilical region
 RT. & LT. HYPOCHONDRIAC
Flank the epigastric region and
contain the lower ribs
Right
hypochondriac
Region
Epigastric
Region
Right
hypochondriac
Region
Right
lumbar
Region
Umbilical
Region
Left
lumbar
Region
Right Iliac
(inguinal)
Region
Hypogastric
Region
Left Iliac
(inguinal)
Region
9 ABDOMINOPELVIC REGIONS
Other Body Cavities
 Oral & Digestive cavities
 Mouth
 Digestive Organs
 Continuous tube from mouth to anus
 Nasal Cavity
 Within and posterior to the nose
 Orbital Cavity
 Orbits in the skull that houses the eyes and presents them in
an anterior position
 Middle Ear Cavity
 Contain tiny bones that transmit sound vibrations to hearing
receptors in the middle ear.