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