2. The Language of Anatomy
Special terminology is used to prevent misunderstanding
Exact terms are used for:
Position
Direction
Regions
Structures

3. 1.8: Anatomical Terminology
Anatomical Position – standing erect, facing forward, upper limbs at the sides, palms facing forward and thumbs out
- body may also be supine (lying on back) 3
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4. Anatomical Terminology: Orientation and Directional Terms
Terms of Relative Position (in anatomical position)
Right v. Left
Superior (cephalic) v. Inferior (caudal)
Anterior v. Posterior
Medial v. Lateral
Proximal v. Distal (only in the limbs!)
Ipsilateral v. Contralateral
Deep v. Superficial 4

5. Orientation and Directional Terms
Superior (or cephalic)- toward the head end of the body; upper
Inferior (or sometimes caudal= toward the tail) - away from the head; lower
Anterior (ventral) - front (the kneecap is located on the anterior side of the leg)
Posterior (dorsal) - back (the shoulder blades are located on the posterior side of the body).

6. Medial - toward the midline of the body (the middle toe is medial to the pinky toe)
Lateral - away from the midline of the body (example, the pinky toe is located at the lateral side of the foot)
Proximal - toward or nearest the trunk or the point of origin of a part (the proximal end of the femur joins with the hip/pelvic bone).
Distal - away from or farthest from the trunk or the point or origin of a part (the hand is located at the distal end of the forearm).

7. Contralateral - on the other side (a stroke affecting the right side of the brain may cause contralateral paralysis, affecting movement on the left side of the body)
Ipsilateral - on the same side
Superficial: near surface of body/organ
Deep: away from surface

10. 1.6 Organization of the Human Body
Body Division:
The human body is divided into two portions:
Axial: head, neck, and trunk
Appendicular: upper and lower limbs

11. 1.6 Body Cavities Dorsal (“back”) cranial cavity - brain
vertebral canal (AKA spinal cavity) - spinal cord; surrounded by vertebrae

12. 1.6 Body Cavities Ventral (“belly”): contains “viscera”
thoracic cavity – lungs, mediastinum (contains heart, esophagus, trachea)

13. 1.6 Body Cavities Ventral (“belly”): organs referred to as “viscera”
abdominopelvic cavity – Lined with the peritoneal membranes: parietal peritoneum (outside wall), visceral peritoneum (covers organs within)
abdominal – liver, stomach, spleen , gallbladder, small and large intestines
pelvic – enclosed by pelvic bones; reproductive organs, rectum, bladder
The kidneys are retroperitoneal….
*there are smaller cavities within the head (oral, nasal, etc.)

15. Abdominopelvic Major Organs
Figure 1.8c

16. Body Sections (“cuts”) or Planes
-Sagittal or Median – divides body into left and right portions
Mid-sagittal – divides body into equal left and right portions
-Transverse or Horizontal – divides body into superior and inferior portions
-Coronal or Frontal – divides body into anterior and posterior portions 16

17. © McGraw-Hill Higher Education, Inc./Joe De Grandis, photographer
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
Median
(midsagittal)
plane
Parasagittal
plane
A section along the
median plane
Transverse
(horizontal)
plane
A section
along a
transverse
plane
NEW FIGURE 12.1
A section along a frontal
plane
Frontal
(coronal)
plane
© McGraw-Hill Higher Education, Inc./Joe De Grandis, photographer 17

18. Body Sections 18 (a) (b) (c)
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(a)
(b)
(c)
a: © Patrick J. Lynch/Photo Researchers, Inc.; b: © Biophoto Associates/Photo Researchers, Inc.; c: © A. Glauberman/Photo Researchers, Inc. 18

19. Abdominal Subdivisions
Right
lumbar
region
iliac
Epigastric
Umbilical
Hypogastric
Left
hypochondriac
(a)
Right
lumbar
region
iliac
Epigastric
Umbilical
Hypogastric
Left
hypochondriac
(a)
Right
lumbar
region
iliac
Epigastric
Umbilical
Hypogastric
Left
hypochondriac
(a)
Right
Hypo- chondriac region
Left
hypochondriac
region
Epigastric
region
Right upper
quadrant (RUQ)
Left upper
quadrant (LUQ)
Right
lumbar
region
Left
lumbar
region
Umbilical
region
Right lower
quadrant (RLQ)
Left lower
quadrant (LLQ)
Left
iliac
region
Right
iliac
region
Hypogastric
region
(a)
(b)
Regions (9)
Quadrants (4) 19
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