Anatomical Terminology

Front 1

Anatomical Position

Back 1

Standing erect; the face is forward; and the upper limbs are at the sides, with the palms forward

Front 2

Superior

Back 2

Means a part is above another part, or closer to the head.

Hint 2

The thoracic cavity is superior to the abdominopelvic cavity.

Front 3

Inferior

Back 3

Means a part is bellow another part, or toward the feet

Hint 3

The neck is inferior to the head

Front 4

Posterior

Back 4

Is the opposite of anterior; it means toward the back.

Hint 4

The Pharynx is posterior to the oral cavity

Front 5

Anterior

Back 5

Means toward the front.

Hint 5

The eyes are anterior to the brain.

Front 6

Medial

Back 6

Refers to an imaginary midline dividing the body into equal right and left halves. A part is medial if it is closer to this line than another part.

Hint 6

The nose is medial to the eyes

Front 7

Lateral

Back 7

Means toward the side with respect to the imaginary midline.

Hint 7

The ears are lateral to the eyes.

Front 8

Bilateral

Back 8

Refers to paired structures, one in each side.

Hint 8

The lungs are bilateral

Front 9

Ipsilateral

Back 9

Refers to structures on the same side.

Hint 9

The right lung and the right kidney are ipsilateral

Front 10

Contralateral

Back 10

Refers to structures on the opposite side.

Hint 10

A Patient with a fractured right leg would have to bear weight on the contralateral-in this case,-left lower limb.

Front 11

Proximal

Back 11

Describes a part closer to the trunk of the body or closer to another specified point of reference then another part.

Hint 11

The elbow is proximal to the wrist

Front 12

Distal

Back 12

Is the opposite of proximal. It means a particular body part is farther from the trunk or farther from another specified point of reference than another part.

Hint 12

The fingers are distal to the wrist.

Front 13

Superficial

Back 13

Means near the surface

Hint 13

The epidermis is the superficial layer of the skin.

Front 14

Deep

Back 14

Describes more internal parts.

Hint 14

The dermis is the deep layer of the skin.

Front 15

Sagittal

Back 15

Refers to a lengthwise cut that divides the body into right and left portions. If a sagittal section passes along the midline and divides the body into equal parts, it is called median. A sagittal section lateral to midline is called parasagittal.

Front 16

Transverse

Back 16

Refers to a cut that divides the body into superior and interior portions

Hint 16

Horizontal

Front 17

Frontal

Back 17

Refers to a section that divides the body into anterior and posterior portions.

Hint 17

Coronal

Front 18

Epigastric region

Back 18

The upper limb portion.

Front 19

Left and right hypochondriac region

Back 19

On the left/right side of the epigastric region.

Front 20

Umbilical region

Back 20

The central portion.

Front 21

Left and right lumbar regions

Back 21

On the left/right side of the umbilical region.

Front 22

Hypogastric region

Back 22

The lower middle portion.

Front 23

Left and right iliac regions

Back 23

On the left/right side of the hypogastric region.

Front 24

Right upper quadrant

Back 24

Abdominal area

Front 25

Right lower quadrant

Back 25

Abdominal area

Front 26

Left upper quadrant

Back 26

Abdominal area

Front 27

Left lower quadrant

Back 27

Abdominal area

Front 28

Abdominal

Back 28

Region between the thorax and pelvis

Front 29

Acromial

Back 29

Point of the shoulder

Front 30

Antebrachial

Back 30

Forearm

Front 31

Antecubital

Back 31

Space in front of the elbow

Front 32

Axillary

Back 32

Armpit

Front 33

Brachial

Back 33

Arm

Front 34

Buccal

Back 34

Cheek

Front 35

Carpal

Back 35

Wrist

Front 36

Celiac

Back 36

Abdominal

Front 37

Cephalic

Back 37

Head

Front 38

Cervical

Back 38

Neck

Front 39

Costal

Back 39

Ribs

Front 40

Coxal

Back 40

Hip

Front 41

Crural

Back 41

Leg

Front 42

Cubital

Back 42

Elbow

Front 43

Digital

Back 43

Finger or toe

Front 44

Dorsum

Back 44

Back

Front 45

Femoral

Back 45

Thigh

Front 46

Frontal

Back 46

Forehead

Front 47

Genital

Back 47

Reproductive organs

Front 48

Gluteal

Back 48

Buttocks

Front 49

Inguinal

Back 49

Depressed area of the abdominal wall near the thigh

Front 50

Lumbar

Back 50

Region of the lower back between the ribs and the pelvis

Front 51

Mammary

Back 51

Breast

Front 52

Mental

Back 52

Chin

Front 53

Nasal

Back 53

Nose

Front 54

Occipital

Back 54

Lower posterior region of the head

Front 55

Oral

Back 55

Mouth

Front 56

Orbital

Back 56

Eye cavity

Front 57

Otic

Back 57

Ear

Front 58

Palmar

Back 58

Palm of the hand

Front 59

Patellar

Back 59

Front of knee

Front 60

Pectoral

Back 60

Chest

Front 61

Pedal

Back 61

Foot

Front 62

Pelvic

Back 62

Pelvis

Front 63

Perineal

Back 63

Region between the anus and the external reproductive organs

Front 64

Plantar

Back 64

Sole of foot

Front 65

Popliteal

Back 65

Area behind the knee

Front 66

Sacral

Back 66

Posterior region between the hipbones

Front 67

Sternal

Back 67

Middle of the thorax, anteriorly

Front 68

Sural

Back 68

Calf of leg

Front 69

Tarsal

Back 69

Instep of foot (ankle)

Front 70

Umbilical

Back 70

Navel

Front 71

Vertebral

Back 71

Spinal column