The Language of Anatomy

Gross Anatomy

The study of body structures visible to the human eyes

Anatomical Position

The human body is erect, with the feet only slightly, head and toes pointed forward, and arms hanging at the sides with pals facing forward

Axial (region)

relating to the head, neck and trunk, the axis of the body

Appendicular (region)

Relating to limbs and their attachments to the axis

Abdominal region

Anterior body trunk region inferior to the ribs

Acromial (landmark)

Point of the shoulder

Antebrachial (landmark)

Forearm

Antecubital (landmark)

Anterior surface of the elbow

Axillary (landmark)

Armpit

Brachial (landmark)

Arm

Buccal (landmark)

Cheek

Carpal (landmark)

wrist

Cephalic (landmark)

Head (all of A)

Cervical (landmark)

neck region

Coxal (landmark)

Hip

Crural (landmark)

Leg

Digital (landmark)

Fingers or toes

Femoral (landmark)

Thigh

Fibular (landmark)

Side of the leg

Frontal (landmark)

Forehead

Hallux (landmark)

Great toe

Inguinal (landmark)

Groin Area

Mammary (landmark)

Breast region

Manus (landmark)

Hand

Mental (landmark)

Chin

Nasal (landmark)

Nose

Oral (landmark)

Mouth

Orbital (landmark)

Boney eye socket (orbit)

Palmar (landmark)

Palm of the hand

Patellar (landmark)

Anterior knee (kneecap) region

Pedal (landmark)

Foot

Pelvic (landmark)

Pelvis region

Pollex (landmark)

thumb

Pubic (landmark)

Genital region

Sternal (landmark)

Region of the breastbone

Tarsal (landmark)

Ankle

Thoracic (landmark)

Chest

Umbilical (landmark)

Navel

Otic (landmark)

Ear (#3)

Occipital (landmark)

Scapular (landmark)

Scapula or shoulder blade area

Vertebral (landmark)

area of the spinal column

Lumbar (landmark)

Area of the back between the ribs and the hips

Sacral (landmark)

Region between the hips (overlying the sacrum)

Gluteal (landmark)

buttocks

Perineal (landmark)

Between anus and external gentalia

Body Planes and Sections:

...

Sagittal Plane

Also called median or midsaggital plane

Frontal Plane

Also called coronal plane

Transverse Plane

Cross sections

Superior

Above

Inferior

Below

Anterior

Front

Posterior

Back

Medial

Toward the midline

Lateral

Away from the midline

Cephalad

Toward the head

Caudal

Toward the tail

Dorsal

Backside

Ventral

Bellyside

Proximal

Nearer the trunk or attached end

Distal

Farther from the trunk or point of attachment

Superficial

external- toward or at the body surface

deep

internal- away from the body surface

The wrist is _____ to the hand

Proximal

The trachea (windpipe) is ______ to the spine

Anterior

The brain is ________ to the spinal cord

Superior

The kidneys are ________ to the liver

inferior

The nose is ________ to the cheekbones

Medial

The thumb is _______ to the ring finger

lateral

The thorax is ________ to the abdomen

superior

The skin is _________ to the skeleton

Superficial