1. Language of Anatomy
Terms with precise meanings are used to help medical and healthcare professionals communicate effectively with one another about the human body.
You are responsible for the following terms and being able to apply them!

2. Language of Anatomy Anatomical Position
Feet parallel
Arms hanging at sides
Palms facing forward
Thumbs pointing away from body
Don’t forget… his left is on your right-hand side!!!
RIGHT
LEFT

3. Body Position
Supine
Laying Face-up
Prone
Laying Face-Down

4. Directional Terms Superior (Cranial) Inferior (Caudal) Toward the head
Above
Inferior (Caudal)
Away from the Head
Below

5. Directional Terms Anterior (Ventral) Posterior (Dorsal)
Toward the front of the body
In front of
Posterior (Dorsal)
Toward the back of the body
Behind

6. Directional Terms Medial Lateral Toward midline Inner side
Away from midline
Outer Side

7. Directional Terms
Intermediate
Between a medial and lateral structure

8. Directional Terms Proximal Distal
Closer to the attachment point of a limb to the body trunk
Distal
Farther from the attachment point of a limb to the body trunk

9. Directional Terms

10. Directional Terms Superficial Deep Towards the body surface
Away from the body surface
More internal

11. Directional Terms Ipsilateral Contralateral
On the same side of the body
Contralateral
On opposite sides of the body

12. Planes of the Body
Median (Midsagittal) Plane – divides into equal right and left sections
Frontal (Coronal) Plane – divides into anterior and posterior parts
Transverse Plane – divides into superior and inferior parts

13. Regional Terms These are your “Parts of the Body”
It is EXTREMELY helpful to make flash cards of these body parts as you are trying to memorize them!

14. Regional Terms Abdominal – abdomen Acromial – shoulder
Antebrachial – lower arm
Antecubital – anterior elbow
Axillary – armpit
Brachial – upper arm
Buccal – cheek
Calcaneal - heel
Carpal – wrist
Cephalic – head

15. Regional Terms Cervical - neck Coxal – hip Costal - ribs
Cranial - skull
Crural – lower leg
Cubital – posterior elbow
Digital – fingers, toes
Dorsum – upper back
Femoral – thigh (upper leg)
Frontal – forehead

16. Regional Terms Gluteal – buttocks Hallux – big toe
Inguinal – where thigh meets body trunk (groin)
Lumbar – lower back
Mammary - breast
Mental - chin
Nasal – nose
Occipital - posterior base of head
Oral - mouth
Orbital – eye area

17. Regional Terms Otic - ear Palmar – palm of hand
Patellar – anterior knee
Pedal - foot
Pelvic – anterior pelvis area
Plantar – sole of foot
Pollex - thumb
Popliteal – posterior knee
Pubic – genital region
Scapular – shoulder blade

18. Regional Terms Sternal – breastbone Sural – calf of leg Tarsal – ankle
Thoracic – chest
Umbilical – navel
Vertebral - spine

19. Body Cavities
What kinds of organs might be found in the Dorsal Cavity?
What kinds of organs might be found in the Ventral Cavity?
Which of these organs would be specific to the Thoracic Cavity?
To the Abdominopelvic Cavity?

21. Abdominopelvic Cavity
Why would this cavity be vulnerable to damage?
Because it is so large, it is helpful to break up this cavity into smaller sections for study
One system used by medical personnel uses quadrants

22. Abdominopelvic Cavity
Another system used by anatomists, divides it into 9 regions
“epi” is upon, “gastric” is stomach
“hypo” is below
“Iliac” is the superior part of hip bone
“lumbus” is loin
“chondro” is cartilage