Language of Anatomy Flashcards
Standard body position used to avoid confusion.
Terminology refers to this position regardless of actual body position
Anatomical position
What are the requirements for anatomical position?
Stand erect, feet parallel, arms hanging at the sides with palms facing forward and thumbs pointing away from the body
Lying face up
Supine
Lying face down
Prone
Toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of
Medial
Explain location of one body structure in relation to another
Describe the relationship between the body two structures
Directional terms
Away from the head or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; below
Inferior (Caudal)
Toward the head or upper part of a structure or the body; above
Superior (Cranial or Cephalic)
Toward or at the front of the body; on front of
Anterior (ventral)
Toward or at the backside of the body; behind
Posterior (dorsal)
Away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of
Lateral
Farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk
Distal
Between a more medial and a more lateral structure
Intermediate
Close to the origin of the body part or point of attachment to a limb to the body trunk
Proximal
Away from the body surface; more internal
Deep (internal)
The nose is ______ to the mouth
Superior
Toward or at the body surface
Superficial (External)
The mouth is _____ to the nose
inferior
The breastbone is ______ to the spine
anterior
the kidneys are _____ to the abdominal wall
Posterior
The heart is _____ to the lungs
medial
the lungs are _____ to the heart
lateral
the eyes are ______ of the nose and the ears
intermediate
the knee is ______ to the ankle
proximal
the wrist is ______ to the elbow
distal
the skin is _______ to the skeleton
superficial
the lungs are ______ into the ribcage
deep
frontal, orbital, nasal, buccal, oral, mental
cephalic region (head)
frontal
head
nasal
nose area
orbital
eye area
buccal
cheek area
oral
mouth
mental
chin
cervical
neck region
thoracic, sternal, axillary, pectoral
thoracic region
Abdominal, umbilical
Abdominal region
Area between the neck and abdomen, supported by ribs, sternum, and costal cartilages.
thoracic
breastbone area
sternal
axillary
armpit
chest area
pectoral
anterior body trunk inferior to the ribs
abdominal
umbilical
navel area
pelvic, inguinal, pubic
pelvic region
area overlying the pelvis anteriorly
pelvic
area were the thigh meets the body trunk (groin)
Inguinal
genital region
pubic
acromial, deltoid, brachial, antecubital, antebrachial, carpal
upper limb landmarks
Point of the shoulder
acromial
curve of the shoulder formed by the deltoid muscle
deltoid
arm
brachial
digital is found in
manus (hand)
anterior surface of the elbow
antecubital
forearm
antebrachial
wrist
carpal
fingers
digital
coxal, femoral, patellar, crural, fibular
lower limb landmarks
hip
coxal
thigh (applies to both anterior and posterior)
femoral
anterior knee
patellar
anterior leg (shin)
crural
pedal, tarsal, digital
pedal
lateral part of the leg
fibular
foot
pedal
toes
digital
ankle region
tarsal
Posterior surface of the
head or the base of the skull
occipital
Shoulder blade region
scapular
scapular, vertebral, lumbar, sacral, gluteal
dorsal region (back)
Area of the spinal column
vertebral
Posterior portion of the neck
cervical
Area between the hips at the base of the spine
sacral
Area of the back between the ribs and hips, also known as the loin
lumbar
Point of the shoulder
acromial
buttock area
gluteal
arm
brachial
posterior surface of the elbow
olecranal
forearm
antebrachial
hand
manus
femoral, popliteal, sural, fibular
lower limb landmarks
thigh
femoral
posterior knee area
popliteal
posterior surface of the leg (calf)
sural
lateral part of the leg
fibular
calcaneal, plantar
pedal region (foot)
heel of the foot
calcaneal
sole of the foot (located on the inferior body surface)
plantar
Sections are cuts along imaginary lines known as
planes
→ Divides the body or organ into left and right parts.
→ This cut can be made anywhere along the body or organ, resulting in left and right portions of varying sizes.
sagittal plane
→ Divides the body or organ into equal left and right parts.
→ This plane specifically cuts the body
or organ into two symmetrical halves
Median (mid-sagittal) plane
→ is a lengthwise cut that divides the body or organ into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts.
→ This is also known as a coronal section.
Frontal (Coronal) plane
→ is a horizontal cut that divides the body or organ into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts.
→ This is also referred to as a cross section.
Transverse (Cross) plane
two subdivisions of dorsal body cavity
cranial and spinal cavity
two internal body cavities
dorsal and ventral
Located inside the skull, it houses and protects the brain.
cranial cavity
→ Extends from the cranial cavity down to the end of the spinal cord.
→ The spinal cord, a continuation of the
brain, is protected by the bony vertebrae that surround it.
spinal cavity
→ The superior portion, separated from
the abdominal cavity by the
diaphragm.
→ It houses organs like the heart and
lungs, which are protected by the
ribcage.
thoracic cavity
the ______ is a central region
within the thoracic cavity, separates the lungs and houses the heart, trachea, and other visceral organs.
mediastinum
→ Cavity inferior to the diaphragm
→ Superior abdominal cabot contains
the stomach, liver, and other organs which are protected only by trunk muscles
abdominopelvic cavity
Contains the liver, right kidney, gallbladder, a portion of the colon, and pancreas.
right upper quadrant
Contains the stomach, left kidney, spleen, a portion of the colon, and pancreas.
left upper quadrant
Contains the appendix, colon, small intestine, ureter, and major vein and artery to the right leg.
right lower quadrant
Contains the colon, small intestine, ureter, and major vein and artery to the left leg.
left lower quadrant
Contains the ascending colon, small intestine, and right kidney.
right lumbar region
Located superior to the umbilical region, it contains the liver, stomach, spleen, duodenum, adrenal glands, and pancreas.
Epigastric region
Contains the stomach, pancreas, left kidney, spleen, and intestines.
left hypochondriac region
Contains the liver, right kidney, gallbladder, and intestines.
Right hypochondriac region
The centermost region surrounding the navel; contains the duodenum, small intestine, and transverse colon.
umbilical region
Contains the descending colon, small intestine, and left kidney.
left lumbar region
Located inferior to the umbilical region, it contains the bladder, sigmoid colon, small intestine, and reproductive organs.
hypogastric region
Contains the appendix, cecum, ascending colon, and small intestine.
right iliac region
Contains the sigmoid colon, descending colon, and small intestine.
left iliac region
The mouth contains the tongue and
teeth, and is continuous with the digestive organs, opening to the exterior at the anus.
oral and digestive cavities
Houses the eyes, presenting them in an anterior position.
orbital cavity
Located within and posterior to the nose, part of the respiratory system
nasal cavity
