Anatomical
Terminology
The Language of Anatomy
 Special terminology is used to
prevent misunderstanding
 Exact terms are used for
 Position
 Direction
 Regions
 Structures
Anatomical Position
 Standard body position used as an initial
reference point
 Body is erect
 Feet parallel
 Arms at the sides
 Palms facing forward
Directional Terms
Superior
Inferior
Ventral
Table 1.1 (1 of 3)
Directional Terms
Dorsal
Medial
Lateral
Proximal
Table 1.1 (2 of 3)
Directional Terms
Distal
Superficia
l
Deep
Table 1.1 (3 of 3)
Practice
 The wrist is _____________ to the hand.
 proximal
 The breastbone is __________ to the spine.
 dorsal
 The brain is _____________ to the spinal cord.
 superior
 The thumb is ___________ to the fingers.
 (remember to assume anatomical position)
 superior
 Anatomical terms worksheet
 Body maps activity
Regional Terms
 Anterior body landmarks
Cephalic (head)
Upper limb (arms)
•Frontal (forehead)
•Acromial (top of shoulder)
•Orbital (eyes)
•Deltoid (bulk of shoulder)
•Nasal (nose)
•Brachial (upper arm)
•Buccal (cheek)
•Antecubital (in front of
elbow)
•Oral (mouth)
Cervical (neck)
Thoracic (chest)
•Sternal (sternum)
•Axillary (armpit)
Abdominal (abdomen)
•Umbilical (belly button)
Pelvic (pelvis)
•Inguinal (groin)
Pubic (genital)
•Antebracial (forearm)
•Carpal (wrist)
•Digital (fingers)
Lower limb (leg)
•Coxal (hip)
•Femoral (thigh)
•Patellar (knee)
•Crural (shin)
•Fibular (outer lower leg)
•Tarsal (ankle)
Figure 1.5a
•Digital (toes)
Regional Terms
 Posterior body landmarks
Upper limb (arms)
Cephalic (head)
•Acromial (top of
shoulder)
•Occipital (lower back
of head)
•Brachial (upper arm)
Cervical (neck)
•Olecranal (elbow)
Back
•Antebracial (forearm)
•Digital (fingers)
•Scapular (shoulder
blade)
Lower limb (leg)
•Vertebral (spine)
•Femoral (thigh)
•Lumbar (lower back)
•Popliteal (back of the
knee)
•Sacral (base of spine)
•Sural (calf)
•Fibular (outer lower
leg)
•Calcaneal (heel)
Figure 1.5b
•Plantar (sole of the
foot)
•Gluteal (buttocks)
Body Planes and Sections
 A sagittal section divides the body (or organ) into left
and right parts
 A median, or midsagittal, section divides the body
(or organ) into equal left and right parts
 A frontal section divides the body (or organ) into
anterior and posterior parts
 A transverse, or cross, section divides the body (or
organ) into superior and inferior parts
Body Planes and Sections
Figure 1.6
Body Cavities
 Dorsal body cavity
 Cranial cavity houses the
brain
 Spinal cavity houses the
spinal cord
 Ventral body cavity
 Thoracic cavity houses
heart, lungs and others
 Abdominopelvic cavity
houses digestive system
and most urinary system
organs
 Diaphragm separates the thoracic and
abdominopelvic cavities
 Mediastinum
 Region separating lungs into left and right cavities
in thoracic cavity
 Houses the heart
 Peritoneum
 Membrane lining abdominal cavity
 Pericardium
 Membrane lining Heart
Abdominopelvic Quadrants
Figure 1.8a
Abdominopelvic Regions
Figure 1.8b
Abdominopelvic Major Organs
Figure 1.8c
Open Body Cavities
 Oral and digestive
 Nasal
 Orbital
 Middle ear