Anatomical Terms

Anatomical Terms

1. Anatomical position

   • forward facing
   • Head and eyes forward
   • arms byt the side facing forward

2. Body Regions

   • head
     • Skull
   • neck
     • Supports the head
   • Trunk
     • Chest, abdomen and pelvis
   • upper limb
     • arm, elbow and wrist
   • lower limb
     • Upper leg, knee, lower leg and ankle

3. Anatomical terms

   • Superior
     • towards the head or upper part of structure
   • Inferior
     • Away from the head of upper part of structure
   • Anterior
     • Front or towards the front of the body
   • Posterior
     • back or towards the back of the body
   • medial
     • near the mid-line
   • Lateral
     • away from mid-line
   • intermediate
     • between 2 structures
   • Proximal
     • near to the point of origin
   • Distal
     • away from the point of origin
   • superficial
     • towards or on the surface of the body
   • deep
     • away from the surface into deeper part of cavities
   • Contralateral
     • on the opposite side to a structure
   • Ipsilateral
     • on the same side to another structure

4. Body planes

   • Frontal
     • divides into anterior and posterior
   • Transverse
     • Superior and inferior
   • Sagittal
     • left and right
   • Midsagittal
     • Mid-line
   • Oblique
     • passes through the body at 45 degrees

5. body cavities

   • Cranial
     • formed by cranial bones and houses the brain
   • Vetebral
     • formed by the vertebral column
   • Thoracic
     • Pericardium
       • surrounds the heart
     • Pleural
       • surrounds the lungs
     • Mediastinum
       • Central portion of the thoracic cavities
   • Abdominopelvic
     • Abdomen
       • bladder, portions of the small intestines, reproductive organs
     • Pelvic
       • stomach, spleen, liver, gallbladder, small intestines