Anatomical Terms Flashcards
Superior
Nearer to topmost part of the cranium (skull)
Inferior
Nearer to the sole of the foot
Cranial
Toward the head or cranium
Caudal
Towards the feet or tail region (coccyx)
Posterior (dorsal)
Back surface of the body or nearer the back
Anterior (ventral)
Front surface of the body or nearer the front
Rostral
Used in place of anterior when describing parts of the brain
Medial
Nearer to the midline
Lateral
Farther away from the midline
Superficial, Intermediate, Deep
Describe the position of structures relative to the surface of the body or the relatioship of one structure to another underlyiing or overlying structure
External
Outside or farther from the center of an organ or cavity
Internal
Inside or closer to the center
Proximal
Nearer to trunk or point of origin (extremity)
Distal
Farther away from trunk or point of origin (extremity)
Dorsum
Superior aspect of any part that protrudes anteriorly from the body (dorsum of tongue, nose, penis, foot)
Palmar
Referring to the palm side of the hand
Planar
Referring to the sole of the foot
Bilateral
Occurring on both sides
Unilateral
Occurs only on one side
Ipsilateral
Occurs on the same side of the body as something else
Contralateral
Occurs on the opposite side of the body from something else
Acetabulum
Shallow vinegar cup
Acromion
Upper most
Ala
Wing
Alveolus
Small hollow space
Ampulla
Little jar
Anatomy
To separate or take apart; dissect
Anastamosis (Anastomoses)
Opening; natural communication between two vessels
Apex
Tip
Aponeurosis
Tendinous expansion
Arch
A bow
Ascending
Traveling superiorly
Axilla
Armpit
Azygos
Unpaired
Base
The lower part or foundation
Brachium
Arm; shorter, so specifically arm, not forearm
Brevis
Short
Canal
Narrow tube or channel
Cardiac
Heart
Cecum
Blind gut
Celiac
Belly
Cephalic
Cranial; pertaining to the head
Colic
Referring to the colon
Condyle
Knuckle; rounded protuberance
Constrictor
Structure designed to close off a passage way
Coracoid
Crow’s beak
Coronoid
Hooked/curved
Corpus
Body
Cortex
External layer, bark, shell, rind
Costal
Ribs
Coxa
Hip
Crest
Ridge or elongated prominence
Cruciate
Cross shaped
Crus (Crura)
Leg(s)
Cutaneous
Pertaining to the skin
Cystic
Bladder
Descending
Traveling inferiorly
Dexter/Dextral
On the right side; pertaining to the right side
Dilator
Structure designed to dilate an opening
Duodenum
12 at a time (12 finger breadths in length)
Epiploic
Omentum
Extension
To increase the angle between the bones forming a joint
Extrinsic
Coming from the outside
Facet
Small face; smooth area on a bone