The Language of Anatomy
Dr.V.P.C. Rajakaruna
MBBS(COLOMBO)
The Anatomical Position
• The standard reference
position
• Body erect
• Head, eyes, toes directed
forward
• Limbs at sides of body
• Palms directed forward
Relative Position/Directional terms
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1.
Superior ( cranial) = above;
Inferior (caudal) = below;
2.
Anterior = front; Posterior = back;
3.
Ventral = front; Dorsal = back;
4.
Medial = center; Lateral = side;
5.
Ipsilateral = same side;
Contralateral = other side
6.
Proximal = closer to trunk;
Distal = farther from trunk
7.
Superficial = surface;
Deep = internal
8. Epi = above
9. Hypo = below
Body Sections (cuts, planes)
1.Sagittal cut: divides the body into right
and left portions.
midsagittal (median) = equal right and left
portions.
2.Transverse Cut: (or horizontal): divides
the body into superior and inferior portions
3.Coronal Cut: (or frontal): divides the body
into anterior and posterior portions.
Median plane
Of body
Sagittal plane
Of hand
Of foot
Transverse
plane
Coronal plane
Coronal
plane
4.
Cross-section: cut at 90 degrees to
long axis of the object
5. Oblique section: cut at an angle across
an object
6.Longitudinal section: cut with the long
axis of an object
Anatomical Divisions of Abdomen
Anterior Body Landmarks
• Abdominal: anterior body trunk inferior to
ribs
• Acromial: point of shoulder
• Antecubital: anterior surface of elbow
• Axillary: armpit
• Brachial: arm
• Buccal: cheek area
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Carpal: wrist
Cervical: neck region
Coxal: hip
Crural: leg
Digital: fingers, toes
Femoral: thigh
Fibular: lateral part of leg
Inguinal: area where thigh meets body
trunk; groin
• Nasal: nose area
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Oral: mouth
Orbital: eye area
Patellar: anterior knee
Pelvic: area overlying the pelvis anteriorly
Pubic: genital region
Sternal: breastbone area
Tarsal: ankle region
Thoracic: chest
Umbilical: navel
Posterior Body Landmarks
• Calcaneal: heel of foot
• Cephalic: head
• Deltoid: curve of shoulder formed by large
deltoid muscle
• Femoral: thigh
• Gluteal: buttock
• Lumbar: area of back between ribs and
hips
• Occipital: posterior surface of head
• Olecranal: posterior surface of elbow
• Popliteal: posterior knee area
• Sacral: area between hips
• Scapular: shoulder blade region
• Sural: posterior surface of lower leg; the
calf
• Vertebral: area of spine
• Plantar Region is the sole of the foot