Basic Terms Flashcards
The region between the neck and the groin
Trunk
Chest region that contains the ribs
Thorax
The belly region inferior to thorax
Abdomen
Region containing the hip bones
Pelvis
Region between the thighs that contains the external genitalia
Perineum
Attaches the limb to the trunk
Girdle
Hangs from the girdle
Free limb
Connects the free upper limb to the trunk
Pectoral girdle
Region between shoulder and elbow
Arm
Region between elbow and wrist
Forearm
Joins the hand to the forearm
Wrist
Facing forward in the anatomic position
Palms
Faces backwards in the anatomic position
Dorsum of hand
Connects free lower limb to the trunk
Pelvic girdle
Region between groin and knee
Thigh
Region between knee and ankle
Leg
Connects foot to the leg
Ankle
Faces the floor
Sole
Faces up towards the sky
Dorsum of foot
Vertical plane passing through the midline of the body, dividing it into equal right and left halves
Median plane
Any plane parallel to the median plane
Sagittal plane
A vertical plane that is at a right angle to the median plane, divides the body into front and back halves
Frontal (Coronal) plane
A plane at a right angle to both the median and frontal planes, divides body into upper and lower portions
Transverse (horizontal) plane
Situated above another structure; nearer to the head
Superior
Situated below another structure; nearer the foot
Inferior
Related to the cranium (head); toward the head
Cranial
Toward the tail region (coccyx)
Caudal
In front of; toward the front (belly) surface of the body
Anterior (ventral)
In back of; toward the back surface of the body
Posterior (dorsal)
Used in place of anterior when describing parts of the brain; toward the rostrom (“beak”)
Rostral
Nearer to the median plane; toward the midline
Medial
Farther from the median plane; away from the midline
Lateral
For a limb, it refers to being nearer to the attachment of the limb to the trunk; for a linear structure, it refers to being nearer to the origin of the structure
Proximal
For a limb, it refers to being farther from the attachment of the limb to the trunk; for a linear structure, it refers to being farther from the origin of the structure
Distal
Nearer to the surface of the body
Superficial
Farther from the surface of the body
Deep
Away from the center of a body cavity or hollow part of an organ— Used when describing layers of the body wall or layers in the wall of a hollow organ
External
Toward the center of a body cavity or hollow part of an organ— Used when describing layers of the body wall or layers in the wall of a hollow organ
Internal
