A&P Terminology of The Body: Silent Lecture
ANATOMICAL TERMS
When anatomists or doctors discuss the human body, they refer to specific areas in
accordance with a universally accepted standard position called Anatomical
Position. It is essential to understand this position, because much of the body
terminology employed in this course refers to this body positioning, regardless of the
portion the body happens to be in. The anatomical position in humans is standing
erect, facing forward, arms at sides and palms forward. Quadrupedal (four footed)
organisms have a slightly different position, which is standing erect, facing forward,
and all four feet on the ground. This difference in positions results in different
connotations for a four-legged animal compared to a human.
Study the terms below, referring to figures on page 4,6, &9 of your book. The
following terms are dependent on an assumption of anatomical position.
Superior/inferior (above/below): these terms refer to placement of a body structure
along the long axis of the body. Superior structures always appear above other
structures. For example, the nose is superior to the mouth, and the abdomen is
inferior to the chest region.
Anterior/posterior (front/back): In humans the most anterior structures are those
that are most forward, the face, chest and abdomen. Posterior structures or surfaces
are those toward the backside of the body. For instance, the spine is posterior to the
heart
Medial/lateral (towards the midline/away from the midline): The ear is lateral to the
bridge of the nose; the sternum (breastbone) is medial to the ribs.
The next four terms are more absolute. That is their applicability is not relative to a
particular body position, and they consistently have the same meaning in all
vertebrate animals.
Cephalad/caudal (towards the head/away from the head): In humans these terms are
used interchangeably with superior and inferior. But in four-legged animals they are
synonymous with anterior and posterior respectively.
Dorsal/ventral (backside/belly side): these terms are used chiefly in discussing the
comparative anatomy of animals, assuming the animal is standing. Dorsum is Latin
meaning "back", thus dorsal refers to the backside of the animal's body or of any
other structure. For instance, the posterior surface of the leg is its dorsal surface.
The term ventral derives from the Latin term venter, meaning "belly", and thus
refers to the belly side of animals. In humans the term ventral and dorsal may be
used interchangeably with the terms anterior and posterior, but in four-legged
animals ventral and dorsal are synonymous with inferior and superior respectively.
Proximal/distal (nearer the trunk or attached end/farther from the trunk or point of
attachment): These terms are used primarily to locate various areas of the body
limbs. For example, the fingers are distal to the elbow; the knee is proximal to the
toes.
Superficial/deep (towards or at the body surface/away from the body surface or more
internal): these terms locate body organs according to their relative closeness to the
body surface. For example, the lungs are deep to the rib cage, and the skin is
superficial to the skeletal muscles.
Central/peripheral (principle part/extensions from the principle part or to the side of
principle part): Like the next term, these terms are often associated with body
systems and their relationship to other parts of that same system. For example we
have the central nervous system with the brain and spinal cord, while the peripheral
nervous system is everything that connects to the CNS like brachial nerves in the
upper arm.
Parietal/visceral (wall of a cavity organs /within a cavity): These terms most often
refer to organs associated with a body cavity. Think of the abdominopelvic cavity;
imagine how the stomach is enclosed and then how it is housed with the other
digestive organs.
Before continuing, practice by using a human torso model, a skeleton or your own
body to specify the relationship between the following structures. Use the correct
anatomical terminology below.
The wrist is _________________________ to the hand, but ______________________ to
the shoulder.
The trachea (windpipe) is _______________ to the spine
The brain is _________________________ to the spinal cord
The kidneys are ______________________ to the liver
The tip of the nose is __________________ to the cheekbones.
SURFACE ANATOMY.
Refer to Table 1-2 for the following Descriptive Terms of Body Regions. Many of
these terms are in the book; a few others have been added. Compare the two and see
if you recognize some of the terms and why they are associated with that area. By
several landmarks write something that reminds you of this term. (Example below)
Anterior body landmarks
Oral: pertaining to the mouth (ex. Oral Presentation- We gave oral presentations in
Fritz’s class today, or Oral Surgeon- I saw an oral surgeon to remove a lump in my
mouth)
Don’t forget to make some associations to Body Regions.
Orbital: pertaining to the bony eye sockets
Buccal: pertaining to the cheek
Cervical: pertaining to the neck region
Thoracic: pertaining to the chest
Axillary: pertaining to the armpit.
Umbilical: pertaining to the naval
Pubic: pertaining to the genital region
Brachial: pertaining to the arm (region of upper limb between shoulder and elbow).
Antecubital: pertaining to the anterior surface of the elbow.
Inguinal: pertaining to the area where the thigh meets the body trunk
Abdominal: pertaining to the anterior body trunk region inferior to the ribs
Petellar: pertaining to the anterior knee (kneecap) region
Posterior body landmarks
Occipital: pertaining to the posterior surface of the head or base of the skull
Deltoid: pertaining to the curve of the shoulder formed by the large deltoid muscle
Scapular: pertaining to the scapula or shoulder blade area
Femoral: pertaining to the thigh
Digital: pertaining to the fingers or toes.
Lumbar: pertaining to the area of the back between the ribs and hips
Gluteal: pertaining to the buttocks or rump
Popliteal: pertaining to the posterior knee region
Sural: pertaining to the posterior surface of the leg
Calcanceal: pertaining to the heel of the foot
BODY PLANES AND SECTIONS
The body is three-dimensional and, in order to observe its internal structures, it is
often helpful and necessary to make use of a section, or cut. When the section is
made through the body wall or through an organ, it is made along an imaginary
surface or line called a plane. Below, draw you own figure and label the planes.
Anatomists commonly refer to three planes (Figure 1-3) or sections, which lie at
right angles to one another.
Sagittal plane: A plane that runs longitudinally, dividing the body into right and left
parts, is referred to as a sagittal plane. If it divides the body into equal parts, right
down the median plane of the body, it is called a midsagittal, or median, plane. All
other planes are referred to as parasagittal planes.
Frontal plane: Sometimes called a coronal plane, the frontal plane is a longitudinal
plane that divides the body (or an organ) into anterior and posterior parts.
Transverse plane: A transverse plane runs horizontally, dividing the body into
superior and inferior parts. When organs are sectioned along the transverse plane,
the sections are commonly called cross sections