Basic Anatomy Terminology

Directional Terminology & General Body Plan Terms Body Planes Median (Midsagittal) – A sagittal plane that lies exactly in the midline Sagittal – Vertical plane that divides the body into right and left parts Frontal – Lie vertical; divide body into anterior and posterior parts Transverse – runs horizontal from right to left; divides body in superior and inferior parts Anterior – Toward or at front of the body; in front of (Vental) Posterior – Toward or back of the body; behind (Dorsal) Superior (Cranial) – Toward the head end or upper part of a structure or the body; above Inferior (Caudal) – away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or body; below Venrtral – “Belly” of a vertebrate animal Dorsal – Animal’s back Medial – Toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of Lateral – Away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of Proximal – Closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk Distal – Farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk Parietal – Membrane lining the cavity walls Visceral – Ventral body cavity houses a group of internal organs Superficial – Toward or at the body surface Deep – Away from the body surface; more internal

Other Body Terms

Cephalic - Head Frontal - Forehead Occipital – Back of the head or base of skull Buccal - Cheek Mental - Chin Oral - Mouth Orbital - Eye Cervical - Neck Nape – Back of the neck Scapular – Shoulder blade Axillary - Armpit Brachial - Arm Antebrachial - Forearm Carpel - Wrist Phalangies – Relating to the bones of the fingers and toes Thorasic - Chest Umbilical - Navel Coxal - Hip Pubis – Genital region Inguinal - Groin Sacral – Between hips Gluteal - Buttock Femoral - Thigh Crural - Leg Sural - Calf Pateller – Anterior knee Popliteal – back of knee (Posterior) Tarsal – Ankle (part of Pedal) Pedal - Foot Calcaneal - Heel Plantar - Sole Hallux – Great toe