ANATOMICAL TERMINOLOGY

To eliminate unneeded and ambiguous words

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- A. Body Positions

Anatomical Positions – descriptions of any region or part of the body

Standard AP: the subject stands erect facing the observer, with the head level and eyes facing directly forward. The
feet are flat on the floor and directed forward, and the arms are at the side with the palms turned forward. (Upright
position)
Reclined position:
1. Prone Position - if the body is lying face down,
2. Supine Position – if it lying face up.
3. Median Position: lying in the middle (central position)
Body Surface Two Regional Names: landmarks of the body
1. Axial parts (head, neck, trunk, he axis of the body);
2. Appendicular part (limbs, their attachment to the axis)
ANTERIOR BODY
LANDMARKS
1 Abdominal Pertaining to the anterior body trunk region inferior to the ribs
2 Acromial Pertaining to the point of the shoulder
3 Antebrachial Pertaining to the forearm
4 Antecubital Pertaining to the anterior surface of the elbow
5. Axillary Pertaining to the armpit
6 Brachial Pertaining to the arm
7 Buccal Pertaining to the cheek
8 Carpal Pertaining to the wrist
9 Cephalic Pertaining to the head
10 Cervical Pertaining to the neck region
11 Coxal Pertaining to the hip
12 Crural Pertaining to the leg
13 Digital Pertaining to the finger or toes
14 Femoral Pertaining to the thigh
15 Fibular (peroneal) Pertaining to the side of the leg
17 Frontal Pertaining to the forehead
17 Hallux Pertaining to the great toe
18 Inguinal Pertaining to the groin
19 Mammary Pertaining to the breast
20 Manus Pertaining to the hand
21 Mental Pertaining to the chin
22 Nasal Pertaining to the nose
23 Oral Pertaining to the mouth
24 Orbital Pertaining to the bony eye socket (orbit)
25 Palmar Pertaining to the palm of hand
26 Patellar Pertaining to the anterior knee (kneecap) region
27 Pedal Pertaining to the foot
28 Pelvic Pertaining to the pelvis region
29 Pollex Pertaining to the thumb
30 Pubic Pertaining to the genital region
31 Sternal Pertaining to the region of the breast bone
32 Tarsal Pertaining to the ankle
33 Thoracic Pertaining to the chest
34 Umbilical Pertaining to the navel
 POSTERIOR BODY
LANDMARKS
1 Acromial Pertaining to the point of the shoulder
2 Brachial Pertaining to the arm
3 Calcaneal Pertaining to the heel of the foot
4 Cephalic Pertaining to the head
5. Dorsum Pertaining to the back
6 Femoral Pertaining to the thigh
7 Gluteal Pertaining to the buttocks or rump
8 Lumbar Pertaining to the area of the back between the ribs and hips; the loin
9 Manus Pertaining to the hand
10 Occipital Pertaining to the posterior aspect of the head or base of the skull
11 Otic Pertaining to the ear
12 Olecranal Pertaining to the posterior aspect of the elbow
13 Pedal Pertaining to the foot
14 Perineal Pertaining to he region between the anus and external genitalia
15 Plantar Pertaining t the sole of the foot
17 Popliteal Pertaining to the back of the knee
17 Sacral Pertaining to the region between the hips (overlying the sacrum)
18 Scapular Pertaining to the scapula or shoulder blade area
19 Sural Pertaining to the calf or posterior surface of the leg
20 Vertebral Pertaining to the area of the spinal column

Principal Regions of Human Body (external observation)

Region Terms Part Comprises (with anatomical names/ anterior and posterior view)
1. Head Skull (cranial) and face (facial); Fore head (frontal), Eye (orbital), Ear (otic), Cheek (buccal),
(cephalic) Nose (nasal), Mouth (oral), Chin (mental); Base of the Skull (occipital) (temporal) (parietal)
2. Neck Neck (cervical)
3. Trunk Chest (thoracic), Abdomen, Pelvis; Breastbone (sternal), Breast (mammary), Navel (umbilical),
Hip (coxal), Groin (inguinal); Back (dorsal), Spinal Column (vertebral), ; Loin (lumbar), Between
Hips (sacral), Buttock (gluteal), Pubis/genital (pubic)
4. Upper Limbs Shoulder (acromial), armpit (axillary), arm (brachial), Forearm (antebrachial), Wrist (carpal),
and Hand (manual/manus) ; Front of elbow (antecubital), Palm, (palmar), Fingers, Thumb
(pollex), (digital/phalengial); Shoulder Blade (scapular), Back of the elbow (olecranal), Back of
the Hand (dorsum)
5. Lower Limbs thigh (femoral), leg (crural), ankle (tarsal), and foot (pedal); Anterior Surface of the Knee
(patellar), Ankle (tarsal), Toes (digital/phalangeal), Top of the foot (dorsum): Hollow behind
the knee (popliteal), Calf (sural), Sole (plantar), Heel (calcaneal) , Great toe (Hallux)

ACTIVITIES: Locating Body Region

(Locate the anterior and posterior body landmarks on your own self or in a group with your lab partnet , and a human
torso model before continuing.)
 B. Body Orientation and Direction

- To locate various body structures, words are used to describe the position of one body part relative to another
- Several directional terms are grouped in pairs that have opposite meanings ( e.g. ANTERIOR to front or POSTERIOR to back)
- Midline:

Directional Terms
Directional Terms Definition Example of Use
1. Superior (cephalic or Toward the head, or the upper body of a The heart is superior to the liver
cranial) structure Lungs to the liver
2. Inferior (caudal) Away from the head, or the lower part of a The stomach is inferior to the lungs
structure Intestine to stomach
3. Anterior (ventral*) Nearer to or at the front of the body The sternum (breastbone) is anterior to the heart;
Ribs to the spine
4. Posterior (dorsal) Nearer to or at the back of the body The esophagus is posterior to the trachea
(windpipe); occipital bone to frontal b
5. Medial Nearer to the midline® The ulna is medial to the radius
6. Lateral Farther from the midline The lungs are lateral to the heart
7. Intermediate (between) Between two structures The transverse colon is intermediate between the
ascending and descending colons
8. Ipsilateral (same side) On the same side of the body as another The gall bladder and ascending colon are
structure ipsilateral
Left arm to left foot
9. Contralateral (opposite) On the opposite side of the body from another The ascending and descending colons are contralateral
structure Left arm to right arms

10. Proximal (close to) Nearer to the attachment of a limb to the trunk; The humerus is proximal to the radius
nearer to the origination of a structure Scapula to humerus
11. Distal (Far from) Farther from the attachment of a limb to the The phalanges are distal to the carpals
trunk; farther from the origination of a structure Wrist to elbow
12. Superficial (external) Toward or on the surface of the body The ribs are superficial to the lungs
Epidermis to dermis
13. Deep (Internal) Away from the surface of the body The ribs are deep to the skin of the chest and back
Hypodermis to dermis

*Ventral refers to the belly side, whereas Dorsal refers to the back side. In 4-legged animals, anterior = cephalic (toward the head), ventral = inferior, posterior
= caudal (toward the tail), and dorsal = superior.
®the midline is an imaginary vertical line that divides the body into equal right and left sides.

C. Body Planes and Sections

PLANES - an imaginary plane flat surfaces that pass through the body parts
Longitudinal (cut that is made along (parallel to) the long axis of the body or a part.)
Term Description
Sagittal Plane Is a vertical plane that divides the body or an organ into R Head and pelvic organ
(vertical plane) and L sides (perpendicular to the ground)
Midsagittal Plane When such plane passes through the midline of the body
(median plane) or an organ and divides into 2 equal R/L sides.
Parasagittal Plane If the sagittal plane does not pass through the midline but
instead divides the body/organ into unequal R/L sides
Frontal Plane Divides the body/organ into anterior (front) and posterior
(coronal plane) (back) portions
Transverse Plane Divides the body/organ into superior (upper) and inferior
(cross-sectional or (lower) portions Axial Plane is the other term.
horizontal plane)
Oblique Plane Passes through the body/organ at an angle between the
transverse plane and either sagittal or frontal plane
SECTION- Is a one flat surface of a 3-dimmensional structure (when viewing a body region) actual cut made along a plane

Term Description
Sagittal
Transverse Section (Cross) a cut is made perpendicular to the long axis of the Brain, entire body
body or a part a cross section passes along a transverse plane
Frontal section a longitudinal section that passes along a frontal plane
Thoracic and abdominal cavities
Midsagittal Section a longitudinal section that passes along a midsagittal plane Brain, entire body
- Importance of plane of the section: to understand the anatomical relationship of one part to another

ACTIVITIES: BANANA

D. Body Cavities

- are spaces within the body that help protect, separate, and support internal organs.

-Bones, muscles, and ligaments

Summary of Body Cavities and Their Membranes

Cavity Comments
1. Dorsal cavity Posterior surface of the body Meninges line the dorsal cavity
A. Cranial cavity Formed by cranial bones Holds/Contains brain
B. Vertebral cavity Formed by vertebral column Vertebral (spinal) canal, Contains spinal cord
(backbone)
2. Ventral cavity Anterior aspect of the body Diaphragm separates the TC and ApC
A. Thoracic cavity (chest Superior portion of ventral body Viscera term for organs inside the ventral cavity
cavity) cavity Ribs, muscles of the chest, the sternum (breastbone), and
Contains plural and pericardial thoracic portion of vertebral column encircle TC
cavities and the mediastinum Holds the heart
a. Pleural cavity Each surrounds a lung The serous membrane of the plural cavities is the pleura
b. Pericardial cavity Surrounds the heart The serous membrane of the pericardial cavity is the
pericardium. Visceral pericardium (covers surface of the
heart), Parietal pericardium (lines the chest wall)
c. Mediastinum cavity Central portion of thoracic cavity Contains heart, thymus, esophagus, trachea, and several large
between the lungs, extends vessels, except lungs
from sternum to vertebral
column and from neck to
diaphragm
B. Abdominopelvic cavity Inferior portion of ventral cavity Extends from diaphragm to the groin and is encircle by the
abdominal wall and the bones and muscles of the pelvis
a. Abdominal cavity (belly) Contains stomach, spleen, liver, gallbladder, small intestine
and most large intestines. The serous membrane is
peritoneum. Visceral peritoneum (covers the abdominal
viscera), parietal peritoneum (lines the abdominal wall)
b. Pelvic cavity Contains urinary bladder, portion of large intestine, and
internal organs of reproduction

*Serous membranes cover the viscera within the Tc and ApC and also lines the walls of the thorax and abdomen.
** parts of the serous membrane are (1) the Parietal Layer and (2) Visceral Layer, which covers and adheres to the viscera within the
cavities
*** Serous fluids between 2 layers reduces friction during slide movements
 E. Abdominopelvic Regions and Quadrants

Methods of dividing Abdominopelvic Cavity

Abdominopelvic Region Abdominopelvic Quadrants
How?: The top horizontal line, (subcostal line), is drawn just inferior How?: A vertical line and a horizontal line are passed
to the rib cage, across the inferior portion of stomach; the bottom through the umbilicus (belly button)
horizontal line (transtubecular line) is drawn just inferior to the tops of
the hip bones. 2 vertical lines (left and right midclavicular line) are
drawn through the midpoints of clavicle (collar bones), just medial t
the nipples.
1. R hypochondriac (liver, gall bladder) 1. Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)
2. Epigastric (stomach) 2. Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)
3. Left hypochondriac, (diaphragm) 3. Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)
4. Right Lumbar (ascending column of large intestine) 4. Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)
5. Umbilical (Small Intes., Transverse colon of LI)
6. Left lumbar (Descending colon of LI)
7. Right inguinal( Cecum)
8. Hypogastric/Pubic (Apendic, Urinary Bladder)
9. Left inguinal (Initial part of sigmoid colon)

What are joints?

The human skeleton is made up of different shaped bones that align with each other. The point where bones align
(articulate) is called a joint.
It is the joints within our bodies that allow movement to occur so that we can sit, walk, run, talk etc
The planes of movement

Movements of the human body are often described in terms of the ‘plane’ in which they pass through. There are three
planes of the human body, these planes are shown in the following table.

Frontal Transverse Sagittal

Description
The frontal plane passes
through the body from left to
right, dividing the body into
anterior and posterior portions.
Example
Side to side movements occurs
in the frontal plane, such as
raising your arms or legs out to
the side like in a star jump.
Description
The transverse plane passes through the
body in a line parallel to the floor, dividing
the body into top and bottom portions.
Example
Twisting or rotational movements occur in
the transverse plane, such as twisting your
head from side to side.
Description
The sagittal plane passes
through the body from front to
back, dividing the body into left
and right portions
Example
Front to back movements occur
in the sagittal plane, such as
walking, pushing, pulling and
squatting

Joint actions

Knowing how the body moves and the actions that various joints allow is crucial for safe and effective exercise
instruction. Some of the key joint actions that you should know are detailed in the following tables.

Flexion:
Refers to movement where the angle between two bones decreases. Flexion is
commonly known as bending.

Extension:
Refers to movement where the angle between two bones increases. Extension is
otherwise known as straightening.

Horizontal flexion:
Refers to movement where the angle between two bones decreases and on the
horizontal plane.

Horizontal extension:
Refers to movement where the angle between two bones increases and occurs on
the horizontal plane.
Lateral Flexion:
Refers to movement of the spine laterally away from the midline of the body.
This can be seen when we bend to one side.

Abduction:
Is movement of a body segment away from the midline of the body.

Adduction:
Is movement of a body segment toward the midline of the body.

Circumduction:
This is a movement where the joint is the pivot and the body segment moves in a
combination of flexion, extension, adduction and abduction.

Protraction:
This is forward movement of the scapula that results in ‘hunching’ of the
shoulders.

Retraction:
This is backward movement of the scapula as they pull together to ‘square’ the
shoulders and push the chest out.

Elevation:
Refers to the raising of the scapula to a more superior level (shrugging the
shoulders).

Depression:
Refers to the scapula moving to a more inferior position as they are pulled
downwards.
Supination:
Hand – movement so the palm of the hand faces upward or forward (anteriorly).
Foot – combination of inversion, plantar flexion and adduction of the foot
occurring at the same time.

Pronation:
Hand – movement so the palm of the hand faces downward or backward
(posteriorly).
Foot – combination of eversion, dorsiflexion and abduction of the foot occurring at
the same time.

Plantar flexion:
Is moving the top of the foot away from the shin or ‘pointing’ the toes.

Dorsiflexion:
Is moving the top of the foot toward the shin or ‘raising’ the toes.

Eversion:
Is the movement of the foot to bring the sole of the foot to face outward.

Inversion:
Is the movement of the foot to bring the sole of the foot to face inward.

Rotation:
Refers to a pivoting or ‘twisting’ movement. Rotation is broken down further into
medial and lateral rotation.
 Medial rotation: The movement of a body segment where the front (anterior) of
the segment rotates medially (inwards) towards the midline of the body.

Lateral rotation: The movement of a body segment where the front (anterior) of
the segment rotates laterally (outwards) away from the midline of the body.

https://www.iptaustralia.com.au/fitness-articles/musculoskeletal-system/joints-and-movement