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THE LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY

Anatomical Position and Directional Terms


-To accurately describe body parts and position, it is a must to have an
initial reference point and set of directional terms. To avoid confusions, it is
always assumed that the body is n a standard position called anatomical
position.
-The terminology that describes orientation and direction assumes that the
body is upright, with arms at the side, feet slightly apart and the palms of
the hands facing forwards and thumbs point away from body

Orientation and Directional Terms

DIRECTIONAL TERMS DEFINITION ILLUSTRATION

• Superior (cranial or
upper part
cephalad)

• Inferior (caudal) lower part

• Anterior (ventral) front

• Posterior (dorsal) back

• Medial near midline

• Lateral far from midline

• Intermediate between two structures


DIRECTIONAL TERMS DEFINITION ILLUSTRATION

nearer attachment; close to the


• Proximal origin of the body part or point
of attachment

farther attachment; farther from


• Distal the origin of the body part or
part of attachment

• Superficial on surface

• Deep away from the surface

• Ipsilateral on the same side


• Contralateral on opposite side

Directional terms are used by medical personnel and anatomists to allow them to explain
exactly where one body structure is in relation to another.
Example:
Using regular terms: The ears are located on each side of the head to the right and left of the
nose
Using anatomical terminology: The ears are lateral to the nose

Body Regional Terms


-When view externally the body is divided into regions or areas

Anterior Body Landmarks


• Abdominal-anterior body trunk
• Acromial-point of shoulder
• Antecubital-anterior surface of elbow
• Axillary-armpit
• Brachial-arm
• Buccal-cheek
• Carpal-wrist
• Cervical-neck region
• Coxal-hip
• Crural-leg
• Digital-fingers, toes
• Femoral-thigh
• Fibular-side of the leg
• Frontal-forehead
• Inguinal-groin
• Mammary-breast
• Manus-hand
• Memtal-chin
• Nasal-nose
• Oral-mouth
• Orbital-bony eye socket (orbit)
• Palmar-palm
• Patellar-anterior knee (kneecap)
• Pelvic-area overlying the pelvis anteriorly
• Pollex-thumb
• Pubic-genital region
• Sternal-breastbone
• Tarsal-ankle
• Thoracic-chest
• Umbilical-navel

Posterior Body Landmarks


• calcaneal-heel
• cephalic-head
• deltoid-curve of shoulder formed by large
deltoid
• dorsal-back
• gluteal-buttocks
• lumbar-area of back between ribs and hips;
loin
• occipital-posterior surface of head
• olecranal-back of elbow
• perineal region-region between the anus and
external
• plantar-sole
• popliteal-posterior knee area
• sacral-area between hips
• scapular-shoulder blade region
• sural-posterior surface of lower leg; calf
• vertebral-area of spine

Body Planes and Sections


-When preparing to look at the internal structure of the body, it is necessary to make a section or
cut. When the section is made through the body wall or through an organ, it is made along an
imaginary line called a plane.

Three Types of Planes or Sections


• Sagittal Section- cut made along the lengthwise, or longitudinal,
plane of the body, dividing the body into left and right parts. If the cut
is made down the median plane of the body, and the right and left
parts are equal in size, it is called midsagittal or median section
• Frontal section- cut made along a lengthwise plane that divides
body into anterior and posterior part. Also called coronal section
• Transverse section- cut made along a horizontal plane, dividing
the body into superior and anterior parts. Also called cross section
Body Cavities
-The body has two sets of internal cavities that provide different degrees of protection to the
organs within them.

Dorsal Body Cavity


-well protected by bone
• The cranial cavity is the space inside the bony skull. The brain is well protected because it
occupies the cranial cavity
• The spinal cavity extends from the cranial cavity nearly to the end of the vertebral column. The
spinal cord, which is a continuation of the brain is protected by the vertebrae, which surround the
spinal cavity
Ventral Body Cavity
-it contains all the structures within the chest and abdomen
• The thoracic cavity is separated from the rest of the ventral cavity by a dome-shaped muscle,
the diaphragm. The thoracic cavity houses the lungs and heart.
• The abdominopelvic cavity is subdivided into abdominal cavity which contains most of the
organs in the digestive system, the liver, the kidneys, and the spleen; its lower part, pelvic cavity,
contains the reproductive organs and urinary bladder.

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