BODY REGIONS: Major Body Parts and their Descriptions

Head (cephalic)

skull and face

Skull

bony part of the head that encloses and protects the brain

Neck (cervival)

anterior portion of the head (where eyes, nose, mouth,

forehead, cheeks, and chin are found

Trunk

chest, abdomen, pelvis, and back

Chest

between the neck and abdomen anteriorly

Abdomen

between the chest and pelvis anteriorly

Back

posterior portion of the trunk ; between the neck and buttocks

Upper Limbs

attached to the trunk by the shoulder girdle;

comprised of the clavicle (anteriorly) and scapula (posteriorly)

Shoulder

upper limb is attached to the shoulder girdle

Upper Arm

part of the upper limb from the shoulder to elbow

Forearm

part of the upper limb from the elbow to wrist

Wrist

part of the upper limb which connects the hand to forearm

Hand

part of the upper limb which includes the palm and fingers

Lower Limbs

attached to the trunk by the pelvic girdle;

consists of ilium, ischium, and pubis

Buttocks

posterior rounded area in the pelvis where the thigh is attached

Thigh

part of the lower limb that is attached to the pelvis

Leg

part of the lower limb from knee to ankle

Ankle

part of the lower limb that attaches the foot to leg

Foot

part of the lower limb which is composed of the sole and toes

ANATOMICAL PLANES AND SECTIONS

Anatomical Plane

Description

Body Sections Produced

Sagittal Plane

vertical plane ; divides into right and

left parts

Sagittal Section

Mid-sagittal Plane or

passes through a midline;

divides into equal right and left
halves

Mid-sagittal section or
median section

Parasagittal Plane

divides into unequal halves

Parasagittal section

Frontal or Coronal
Plane

divided into anterior and posterior

portions

Frontal or coronal section

Transverse or CrossSectional or Horizontal

divided into superior and Inferior

portions

Transverse; or cross or
horizontal section

Median Plane

ANATOMICAL
V TERMS
Anatomical Term

Other Term

Axial

central part of the body; includes the head and trunk

Cephalic

head

Cranial

portion of the skull (surrounding the brain)

Facial

face

Orbital

eye

Frontal

forehead

Otic

ear

Nasal

nose

Buccal

cheek

Oral

mouth

Mental

chin

Occipital

back of the head

Cervical

neck

Thoracic

chest

Sternal

breast bone

Mammary

breast

Abdominal

anterior body trunk; inferior to the ribs

Umbilical

navel

Coxal

hip

Pelvic

pelvis

Pubic

genital area

Dorsal

back

Scapular

shoulder

Vertebral

area of the spine

Lumbar

area of back between hips and ribs

Appendicular

extremities or limbs

Acromial

highest point of shoulder

Axillary

armpit

Brachial

upper arm

ANATOMICAL TERMS
Anatomical Term

Other Term

Volar

antero-medial aspect of the forearm

Carpal

wrist

Palmar

palmar

Digital

fingers

Inguinal

groin

Gluteal

buttocks

Femoral

thigh

Patellar

anterior surface of knee

Politeal

posterior surface of knee

Crural

anterior surface of leg

Sural

posterior surface of leg

Fibular/ Peroneal

lateral side of the leg

Tarsal

ankle

Pedal

foot

Plantar

sole of foot

Calcaneal

heel

DIRECTIONAL TERMS
Term

Location

Superior

above; upper structure of the body

Inferior

below; lower structure of the body

Anterior (ventral)

in front of ; front of the body

Posterior (dorsal)

behind ; backside of the body

Medial

inner side of ; near the midline of the body

Lateral

outer side of ; farther from the midline of the body

Intermediate

between a more medial and a more lateral structure

Ipsilateral

on the same side of the body from another structure

Contralateral

opposite side of the body from another structure

Proximal

close to the point of attachment of a limb to the trunk

Distal

farther from the point of attachment of a limb to the

trunk

Superficial

near the surface of the body

Deep

away from the surface of the body ; internal