1. Anatomical Terminology
Chapter 1
Anatomical Terminology

2. Anatomical Position
The human body is standing erect with the face forward and with the upper limbs at the side with the palms forward

3. Relative Position
Terms that are used to describe the location of one body part with respect to another body part

4. Relative Position Superior
The part is above the other part (closer to the head)

5. Relative Position Inferior
The part is below the other part (closer to the feet)

6. Relative Position
Anterior (or ventral)
The part is toward the front

7. Relative Position
Posterior (or dorsal)
The part is towards the back

8. Relative Position Medial
The part is closer to the mid-line of the body than the other part

9. Relative Position Lateral Ipsilateral Contralateral
The part is closer to the sides (away from the midline) than the other part
Ipsilateral
The parts are on the same side
Contralateral
The parts are on the opposite sides

10. Relative Position Proximal
The part is closer to the trunk of the body or closer to a specified point of reference than the other part

11. Relative Position Distal
The part is farther from the trunk or point of reference than the other part

12. Relative Position Superficial (or peripheral)
The part is near the surface

13. Relative Position
Deep
The part is more internal

14. Body Sections
Sections of body “cut” along various planes

15. Body Sections Sagittal
Cut lengthwise so as to divide the body into right and left portions
Median (midsagittal)
Cut passes along the midline and divides the body into equal parts
Parasaggital
Cut passes lateral to the midline

16. Body Sections Transverse (or horizontal)
Cut divides the body into superior and inferior portions

17. Body Sections
Coronal
Cut divides the body into anterior and posterior sections

18. Body Sections If a cylindrical organ is sectioned… Cross section
Cut across the structure
Oblique section
Cut is angular
Longitudinal section
Cut is lengthwise

19. Body Regions Terms for division of the abdominal area:
Epigastric region
Upper middle portion
Left and right hypochondriac regions
On the left and right side of the epigastric region
Umbilical region
Central portion
Hypogastric region
Lower middle portion
Left and right iliac (or inguinal) regions
On the left and right side of the hypogastric region

20. Body Regions Terms for division of the abdominal area:
Right upper quadrant
Right lower quadrant
Left upper quadrant
Left lower quadrant

21. Body Regions Common Terms: Abdominal Acromial Antebrachial Antecubital
Region between the thorax and pelvis
Acromial
Point of the shoulder
Antebrachial
Forearm
Antecubital
Space in front of the elbow
Axillary
Armpit

22. Body Regions Common Terms: Brachial Buccal Carpal Celiac Cephalic Arm
Cheek
Carpal
Wrist
Celiac
Abdomen
Cephalic
head

23. Body Regions Common Terms Cervical Costal Coxal Crural Cubital Neck
Ribs
Coxal
Hip
Crural
Leg
Cubital
Elbow

24. Body Regions Common Terms Digital Dorsum Femoral Frontal Genital
Finger or toe
Dorsum
Back
Femoral
Thigh
Frontal
Forehead
Genital
Reproductive organs
Gluteal
buttocks

25. Body Regions Common Terms: Inguinal Lumbar Mammary Mental Nasal
Depressed area of the abdominal wall near the thigh (groin)
Lumbar
Region of the lower back between the ribs and the pelvis
Mammary
Breast
Mental
Chin
Nasal
nose

26. Body Regions Common Terms: Occipital Oral Orbital Otic
Lower posterior region of the head
Oral
Mouth
Orbital
Eye cavity
Otic
Ear

27. Body Regions Common Terms: Palmar Patellar Pectoral Pedal Pelvic
Palm of the hand
Patellar
Front of the knee
Pectoral
Chest
Pedal
Foot
Pelvic
Pelvis
Perineal
Region between the anus and the external reproductive organs (perineum)

28. Body Regions Common Terms Plantar Popliteal Sacral Sternal Sural
Sole of the foot
Popliteal
Area behind the knee
Sacral
Posterior region between the hipbones
Sternal
Middle of the thorax, anteriorly
Sural
Calf

29. Body Regions Common Terms Tarsal Umbilical Vertebral
Instep of the foot
Umbilical
Navel
Vertebral
Spinal column