Anatomy For Artists - Terms And Language

Front 1

longitudinal

Back 1

refers to long axis

Front 2

transverse

Back 2

at right angles to long axis

Front 3

vertical

Back 3

ref. to long axis in erect position

Front 4

horizontal

Back 4

at right angles to vertical

Front 5

oblique

Back 5

slanting

Front 6

median

Back 6

midway

Front 7

midline

Back 7

divides body into right and left sides

Front 8

medial

Back 8

nearer to midline or center plane

Front 9

lateral

Back 9

further from midline or center plane

Front 10

anterior

Back 10

front

Front 11

posterior

Back 11

rear

Front 12

superior

Back 12

upper, nearer to crown of head

Front 13

inferior

Back 13

lower, further from head

Front 14

deep

Back 14

further from surface ref to solid form

Front 15

superficial

Back 15

nearer to surface ref to solid form

Front 16

internal

Back 16

inside ref to hollow form

Front 17

external

Back 17

outside ref to hollow form

Front 18

proximal

Back 18

nearer to root of limb

Front 19

distal

Back 19

nearer to the end of limb

Front 20

palmar

Back 20

ref to palm side of the hand

Front 21

plantar

Back 21

ref to sole of foot

Front 22

dorsal

Back 22

ref to back, also "top" back of hand, top of foot

Front 23

supine

Back 23

forearm and hand turned palm side upward

Front 24

prone

Back 24

forearm and hand, turned palm side downward

Front 25

inverted

Back 25

turned inward

Front 26

everted

Back 26

turned outward

Front 27

intermediate

Back 27

between other structures

Front 28

interosseous

Back 28

between bones (as membranes and muscles)

Front 29

articulation

Back 29

connections between bones

Front 30

suture

Back 30

interlocking stitched edges

Front 31

head

Back 31

enlarged round end of bone

Front 32

neck

Back 32

constriction of a bone near head

Front 33

shaft

Back 33

body of a long bone

Front 34

symphysis

Back 34

union of right and left sides in midline

Front 35

eminence

Back 35

low convexity (shallow bumb, just perceptible)

Front 36

protuberance

Back 36

bump

Front 37

tubercle

Back 37

bump

Front 38

tuberosity

Back 38

large and conspicuous bump

Front 39

process

Back 39

projection (can be grasped)

Front 40

spine

Back 40

pointed projection or sharp ridge

Front 41

crest

Back 41

ridge or border

Front 42

condyle

Back 42

polished articular surface (usually a knob)

Front 43

epicondyle

Back 43

elevation near a condyle

Front 44

trochlea

Back 44

spool shaped articular surface

Front 45

ramus

Back 45

plate like branch of bone

Front 46

facet

Back 46

small articular area; often a pit

Front 47

fossa

Back 47

shallow depression

Front 48

foramen

Back 48

hole, peforation