ANATOMICAL TERMS
Axillary
Armpits
Lateral
Def: Away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of ex; the arms are lateral to the chest
Superior (cranial or cephalad)
Def: Toward the head or upper body part of a structure or the body; above ex; the forehead is superior to the nose
Antebrachial
Forearm
Acromial
Point of shoulder
tarsal
ankle region
Abdominal
anterior body trunk inferior to ribs
patellar
anterior knee
Antecubital
anterior surface to elbow
sacral
area between hips
lumbar
area of back between ribs and hips, the loin
pelvic
area overlying the pelvis anteriorly
Sternal
breastbone area
gluteal
buttock
buccal
cheek area
thoracic
chest
Deltoid
curve of shoulder formed by large deltoid muscle
orbital
eye area
Fibular
lateral part of leg
scapular
shoulder blade region
sural
the posterior surface of leg; the calf
Femoral
thigh
carpal
wrist
Deep (internal)
Def: Away from the body surface; more internal ex; the lungs are deep to the rib cage
Inferior (caudal)
Def: Away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; below ex; the naval cavity is inferior to the breastbone
Intermediate
Def: Between a more medial and a more lateral structure ex; the collarbone is intermediate between the breastbone and the shoulder.
Proximal
Def: Close to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk ex; the elbow is intermediate between the breastbone and the shoulder. The elbow is proximal to the wrist ( meaning that the elbow is closer to the shoulder or attachment point of the arm than the wrist is).
Distal
Def: Farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk. ex; the knee is distal to the thigh
Dorsal (posterior)
Def: Toward or at the backside of the body; behind ex; the heart is posterior to the breastbone
Superficial (external)
Def: Toward or at the body surface ex; the skin is superficial to the skeleton
Ventral (anterior)
Def: Toward or at the front of the body; in front of ex; the breastbone is anterior to the spline
Medial
Def: Toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of ex; the heart is medial to the arm
vertebral
area of spinal column
Inguinal
area where thigh meets body trunk; groin
Brachial
arm
Mental
chin
Digital
fingers; toes
frontal
forehead
pubic
genital area
cephalic
head
calcaneal
heel of foot
Coxal
hip
Crural
leg
oral
mouth
umbilical
navel
Cervical
neck region
nasal
nose area
plantar
or sole of the foot, on the inferior body surface
popliteal
posterior knee area
olecranal
posterior surface of elbow
occipital
posterior surface of head or base of skull
