Directional terms

cranial

Skull

transverse (cross-section)

a cut in a horizontal plane separating the body into upper and lower portions

coronal (frontal)

a section through the body which produces a front (anterior) portion and a back (posterior) portion.

fovea

a small depression smaller than fossa

sulcus

a very shallow furrow

process

any bony prominence

brachial

arm

ramus

arm-like projection

axillary

armpit

deep

away from the surface of the body

cubital

elbow

distal

farther away from the point of attachment

antebrachial

forearm

frontal

forehead

pelvic cavity

formed by hip bones

groove

furrow

antecubital

in the front of the elbow

notch

indentation on the edge of the bone

visceral

internal organ

patellar

knee

crural

leg

abdominal cavity

lies inferior to the diaphragm

circumduction

movement of the distal end of an extremity in circle while the proximal end remains stationary

cervical

neck

Lateral

opposite of medial, away from the midline

inferior (caudal)

opposite of superior means downward or away from the head

pronation

opposite of supination

visceral (directional)

pertaining to the covering of an organ

epicondyle

raised area above a condyle

somatic

related to body

foramen

round or oval opening through the bone

condyle

rounded articular projection

fossa

shallow basin-like depression often served as an articular surface

spine

sharp slender projection

acromial

shoulder

tubercle

small rounded projection

facet

smooth, nearly flat articular surface

plantar

sole of foot

superior (cranial)

upward or toward the head

Parasagittal

a section parallel to the midsagittal plane

buccal cavity

behind the mouth

nasal cavity

behind the nose

perineal

between anus and external genitalia

hallux

big toe

thoracic cavity

bound by rib cage, lies superior to diaphragm

flexion

brings the two ends of an extremity closer together

gluteal

buttock

meatus

canal-like passageway

sinus

cavity within the bone filled with air

buccal

cheek

mental

chin

proximal

closer to the point of attachment

orbital cavity

contains the eyeball

spinal cavity

continuous with cranial cavity and runs through the vertebrae. This cavity contains the spinal cord.

Midsagittal

cut from anterior to posterior, separating body into right and left halves

pubic

genital

inguinal

groin

cephalic

head

calcaneal

heel of foot

coxal

hip

popliteal

in the back of knee

cranial cavity

located in the skull and contains the brain

abduction

movement of a part of the body away from the midline

depression

movement of the lower jaw downward, open

elevation

movement of the lower jaw upward, closed

adduction

movement toward the midline

retraction

moving lower jaw backward

protraction

moving lower jaw forward

eversion

moving the sole of foot laterally

inversion

moving the sole of the foot medially

opposition

moving the thumb to oppose the rest of the fingers

line

narrow ridge, less prominent than a crest

fissure

narrow slit-like opening

crest

narrow, usually prominent ridge on the bone

rotation

revolving of a body part on its long axis

supination

rotation of the forearm so that the palm of the hand faces either anteriorly or superiorly

head

rounded bony extension carried on a narrow neck

tuberosity

spread out large rounded projection

abdominopelvic cavity (four quadrants)

subdivided into four quadrants. 1. right upper quadrant 2. right lower quadrant 3. left upper quadrant 4. left lower quadrant

orbital, nasal and buccal cavities

these three cavities are located in the anterior part of the skull.

femoral

thigh

pollex

thumb

posterior (dorsal)

toward the back of the body

Anterior (ventral)

toward the front of the body

parietal

toward the outer wall of a body cavity

superficial

toward the surface of the body

Medial

toward vertical midline of the body

carpal

wrist