1. Regional Terms: Anterior Body Landmarks
Abdominal
Anterior body trunk inferior to ribs
Acromial
Point of shoulder
Antecubital
Anterior surface of elbow
Axillary
armpit
Brachial
arm
Buccal
Cheek area
Carpal
Wrist
Cervical
Neck region
Coxal
Hip
Crural
Leg
Digital
Fingers, toes
Femoral
Thigh
Fibular
Lateral part of leg
Inguinal
Area where thighs meet body trunk; groin
Nasal
Nose area
Oral
mouth
Orbital
Eye area
Patellar
Anterior knee
Pelvic
Area overlying the pelvis anteriorly
Pubic
Genital area
Sternal
Breastbone area
Tarsal
Ankle region
Thoracic
Chest
Umbilical
Navel

2. Regional Terms: Posterior Body Landmarks
Calcaneal
Heel of foot
Cephalic
Head
Deltoid
Curve of shoulder formed by large deltoid muscle
Femoral
Thigh
Gluteal
Buttock
Lumbar
Area of back between ribs and hips
Occipital
Posterior surface of head
Olecranal
Posterior surface of elbow
Popliteal
Posterior knee area
Sacral
Area between hips
Scapular
Shoulder blade region
Sural
The posterior surface of lower leg; the calf
Vertebral
Area of spine
Plantar
Sole of the foot, on inferior body surface

3. Directional Terms

4. Body Orientation and Directional Terms
Definition
Illustration
Example
Superior
Toward the head end or upper part of a structure or body
The forehead is superior to the nose.
Inferior
Away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or body
The naval is inferior to the breastbone.

5. Orientation and Directional Terms
Definition
Illustration
Example
Anterior or Ventral
Toward the front of the body or in front of
The breastbone is anterior to the spine.
Posterior or Dorsal
Toward the backside of the body or behind
The heart is posterior to the breastbone.

6. Orientation and Directional Terms
Definition
Illustration
Example
Medial
Toward the body’s midline
The heart is medial to the arm.
Lateral
Away from the body’s midline
The arms are lateral to the heart.

7. Orientation and Directional Terms
Definition
Illustration
Example
Proximal
Close to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the trunk
The elbow is proximal to the wrist.
Distal
Farther from the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the trunk
The ankle is distal to the knee.

8. Orientation and Directional Terms
Definition
Illustration
Example
Superficial
Toward or at the body surface
The skin is superficial to the skeleton.
Deep
Away from the body surface, more internal
The lungs are deep to the rib cage.

9. Body Landmarks
Anterior

10. Body Planes and Sections
Sagittal
Divides the body into right and left parts
Midsagittal/Median
Sagittal plane that lies on the midline (creating equal halves)
Frontal/Coronal
Divides the body into ventral and dorsal parts
Transverse/Horizontal/Cross Section
Divides the body into superior and inferior parts

11. Body Cavities

12. Dorsal Cavity Ventral Cavity Protects the nervous system
Cranial
encases brain
Vertebral
encases spinal cord
Ventral Cavity
Houses the internal organs
Thoracic
encases heart and lungs
Abdominopelvic
encases digestive, excretory, and reproductive organs

13. Abdominopelvic Quadrants
Abdominal Cavity
Abdominopelvic Quadrants