Anatomical Terms Flashcards
Anatomical position, or standard body position
The body is erect with feet slightly apart, with palms facing forward and the thumbs pointing away from the body (anteriorly); important because directional terms refer to the body as if in this position
Directional terms
Explain where one body structure is in relation to another (e.g. the ears are LATERAL to the nose)
Superior (cranial)
Toward the head end or upper part of a structure or the body; above (e.g. the head is superior to the abdomen)
Inferior (caudal)
Away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; below (e.g. the navel is inferior to the chin)
Anterior (ventral)
Toward or at the front of the body; in front of (e.g. the breastbone is anterior to the spine)
Posterior (dorsal)
Toward or ate the back of the body; behind (e.g. the heart is poster to the breastbone)
Medial
Toward or at the middle of the body; on the inner side of (e.g. the heart is medial to the arm)
Lateral
Away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of (e.g. the arms are lateral to the chest)
Intermediate
Between a more medial and a more lateral structure (e.g.The collarbone is intermediate between the breastbone and shoulder)
Proximal
Closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk (e.g. the elbow is proximal to the wrist)
Distal
Farther from the origin of a body part or at the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk (e.g. the knee is distal to the thigh)
Superficial (external)
Toward or at the body surface (e.g. the skin is superficial to the skeletal muscles)
Deep (internal)
Away from the body surface; more internal (e.g. the lungs are deep to the skin)
Regional terms
Used to designate specific areas within the major body divisions, includes two fundamental divisions, the axial and the appendicular parts
Axial part
Makes up the main axis of the body, includes the head, neck, and trunk
Appendicular part
Consists of the appendages, or limbs, which are attached to the body’s axis
Cephalic regions
Includes frontal, orbital, nasal, oral, mental, otic, occipital (back of head)
Cervical region
Neck area
Thoracic
Includes sternal, auxiliary, mammary
Abdominal
Includes umbilical
Pelvic
Includes inguinal (groin)
Pubic
Includes genital
Back (dorsal)
Includes scapular, vertebral, lumbar, sacral, gluteal, perineal (between anus and external genitalia)
Upper limb
Includes lacrimal, brachial (arm), antecubital, olecranal, ante brachial (forearm), carpal (wrist)
Manus (hand)
Includes metacarpal, palmar, polled, digital
Lower limb
Includes coal (hip), femoral (thigh), patellar, popliteal, crural (leg), rural (calf), fibular or peroneal
Pedal (foot)
tarsal (ankle), calcaneal, metatarsal, digital, plantar, hallux
Section, or plane
The flat surface where the body is often cut for anatomical studies
Name 4 different planes
sagittal, frontal, transverse, and oblique; the first 3 lie at right angles to each other, the last is seldom used
Sagittal planes, “arrow”
A vertical plane that divides the body into right and left parts; includes median (or midsagittal) planes and parasagittal planes
Median, or midsagittal, planes
a sagittal plane that lies exactly in the midline
Parasagittal planes
All other sagittal planes, offset from the midline
Frontal, or coronal, planes
Vertical planes that divide the body into anterior and posterior parts
Transverse, or horizontal, plane
Runs horizontally from left to right, dividing the body into superior and inferior parts; also called a “cross section”
Oblique sections
Cuts made diagonally between the horizontal and the vertical planes; often confusing and difficult to interpret and so are seldom used
append-
to hang something; appendicular: pertaining to the limbs
cardi-
heart; pericardium: membrane that surrounds the heart
cran-
helmet; cranial: pertaining to the portion of the skull that surrounds the brain
dors-
back; dorsal: position toward the back
homeo-
same; homeostasis: maintenance of a stable internal environment
-logy
study of; physiology: study of body functions
meta-
change; metabolism
pariet-
wall; parietal membrane: membrane that lines the wall of a cavity
pelv-
basin; pelvic cavity: basin-shaped cavity enclosed by the pelvic bones
peri-
around; pericardial membrane: membrane that surrounds the heart
pleur-
rib; pleural membrane: membrane that encloses the lungs and lines the thoracic cavity
-stasis
standing still; homeostasis: maintenance of a stable internal environment
-tomy
cutting; anatomy: study of structure, which often involves cutting or removing body parts
acromial
the point of the shoulder
antebrachial
the forearm
antecubital
the space infant of the elbow
axillary
the armpit
brachial
the arm
buccal
the cheek
carpal
the wrist
celiac
the abdomen
costal
the ribs
coxal
the hip
crural
the leg
cubital
the elbow
digital
the finger
dorsal
the back
femoral
the thigh
frontal
the forehead
genital
the reproductive organs
gluteal
the buttocks
inguinal
the depressed area of the abdominal wall near the thigh (groin)
lumbar
the region of the lower back between the ribs and the pelvis (loin)
mammary
the breast
mental
the chin
nasal
the nose
occipital
the lower posterior region of the head
oral
the mouth
orbital
the eye cavity
otic
the ear
palmar
the palm of the hand
patellar
the front of the knee
pectoral
the chest
perineal
the region between the anus and the external reproductive organs (perineum)
plantar
the sole of the foot
popliteal
the area behind the knee
sacral
the posterior region between the hipbones
sternal
the middle of the thorax, anteriorly
tarsal
the instep of the foot
umbilical
the navel
vertebral
the spinal column
