DIRECTIONAL TERMS Flashcards
Part of a structure or organ that lies nearest to the median line of the body.
MEDIAL
Part of a structure or organ which lies farthest away from the median line of the body.
LATERAL
Refers to the front or in the front part of the body, structure or organ.
ANTERIOR
Towards the back or in the back part of the body, structure or organ.
POSTERIOR
It refers to the front.
VENTRAL
Refers to the back like posterior.
DORSAL
Refers to the upper, or part nearer to the head end.
SUPERIOR
Refers to the lower part or part farther from the head end.
INFERIOR
Refers to the inside of the body or of a part.
INTERNAL
Refers to the inside of the body or of a part.
INTERNAL
On the outer side of the body.
EXTERNAL
Part of a structure close to the source or origin.
PROXIMAL
Part farther away from the source or origin.
DISTAL/TERMINAL
Relates to an organ itself. e.g. visceral pleura.
VISCERAL
Relates to a wall of a structure.
PARIETAL
Part of an organ or structure itself.
INTRINSIC
Originating outside of an organ
EXTRINSIC
Refers to the head
CEPHALIC
Towards the head end.
CEPHALAD
Refers to the tail end.
CAUDAL
Towards the tail end.
CAUDAD
Refers to the front or palm of the hand.
PALMAR
Refers to the sole of the foot.
PLANTAR
Refers to the palm of the hand and sole of the foot.
VOLAR
Position assumed when lying on the back with face up, or refers to the hand with palms up.
SUPINE
Position assumed when lying on the abdomen/ventral surface, or with palms down.
PRONE
Along the long axis of the body.
LONGITUDINAL
Across or at right angle to the long axis of the body.
TRANSVERSE
Perpendicular to the horizon.
VERTICAL
Parallel to the horizon.
HORIZONTAL
The larger.
GREATER/MAJOR
The smaller
LESSER/MINOR
Anterior body trunk region inferior to the ribs
ABDOMINAL
Point of the shoulder
ACROMIAL
Forearm
ANTEBRACHIAL
Anterior surface of the elbow
ANTECUBITAL
Armpit
AXILLARY
Arm
BRACHIAL
Wrist
CARPAL
Head
CEPHALIC
Neck region
CERVICAL
Hip
COXAL
Fingers and toes
DIGITAL
Thigh
FEMORAL
Side of the leg
FIBULAR
Forehead
FRONTAL
Great toe/Big toe
HALLUX
Groin Area
INGUINAL
Breast Region
MAMMARY
Manus
HAND
Chin
MENTAL
Nose
NASAL
Mouth
ORAL
Bony eye socket
ORBITAL
Palm of the hand
PALMAR
Anterior knee region
PATELLAR
Foot
PEDAL
Pelvis region
PELVIC
Thumb
POLLEX
Genital region
PUBIC
Region of the breast bone
STERNAL
Ankle
Tarsal
Chest
THORACIC
Navel
UMBILICAL
The human body is in upright or erect position, with the feet only slightly apart, head and toes pointed forward and arms hanging at the sides with palms facing forward.
ANATOMICAL POSITION
A line drawn perpendicularly through the center of the forehead, nose, chin, chest, abdomen and pelvis, dividing the body into two equal halves.
MEDIAN LINE OF THE BODY
A plane through the median line of the body by cutting from front to back through the sagittal suture of the skull
MID-SAGITTAL PLANE
Same direction as the MSP and to one or other side of the median line.
SAGITTAL PLANE
Plane made by cutting across the body from side to side and therefore parallel to the coronal suture of the skull.
CORONAL/FRONTAL PLANE
A plane made by cutting across the body or part of it at right angles to the long axis of the body.
TRANSVERSE/HORIZONTAL/AXIAL PLANE
Is a real or imaginary flat surface
PLANE
The two of the most supportive tissues found in the human body
CARTILAGE AND BONE
What are the 2 Division of Human Skeleton
AXIAL SKELETON
APPENDICULAR SKELETON
Those bones that lie around the body’s center of gravity
AXIAL SKELETON
Bones of the limbs or appendages
APPENDICULAR SKELETON
