Anatomy and Physiology Terminology

AKA ... a new language

1st thing 1st

  • Anatomical Position

◦

▪Right and left refer to “body right” and “body left”

  • The “body” is the one we are talking about. Not yours, unless you are the one being discussed. ^-^

Relative Terms

  • Describe the location of a body part with respect to another body part. So, they depend on other factors...
  • 1st Set

◦Superior – body part

◦Inferior – body part is

Some more partners

  • 2nd set

◦Anterior (AKA ventral)- (belly side)

◦Posterior (AKA dorsal) –

  • 3rd set

◦Medial – refers to an imaginary line that separates us into right and left sides; it means

◦Lateral – in respect to this imaginary line

A few more...

  • 4th set

◦Proximal – body part is to the trunk than another body part

◦Distal – body part is to the trunk than the other part

  • 5th set

◦Superficial (AKA peripheral)- situated

◦Deep – is than another part

Done with partners... Now we get to look at sections!

  • Three imaginary planes divide the body and are used to organize and give relative locations to internal parts

◦ – divides the body into right and left portions

▪If on the midline called

◦Transverse () – divides body into inferior and superior sections

◦Coronal () divides body into anterior and posterior sections

A few more sections

  • The previous sections can be used to divide organs as well.
  • If the organ is a cylinder, such as a long bone, there are a few more.

◦Cross section –

◦Oblique section –

◦Longitudinal section –

Body regions... Yep, they get special names, too.

  • 1st up... the 9 regions of the abdominal area

◦Epigastric region – upper middle portion

◦Left and Right Hypochondriac regions – lie on either side of the epigastric region

◦Umbilical region – middle portion where the belly button is

◦Left and Right Lumbar regions - either side of the umbilical region

◦Hypogastric region – lower middle portion

◦Left and Right iliac (or inguinal) region – either side of the hypogastric region

Some more...

  • The abdomen can be divided into only four quandrants, depends on what the doctor needs...

◦Right and left upper quadrant

◦Right and left lower quadrant

Now, the list begins...

  • Abdominal – region between the thorax and the pelvis
  • Acromial- the point of the shoulder
  • Antebrachial – the forearm (lower arm)
  • Antecubital – space in front of the elbow
  • Axillary – the armpit
  • Brachial – the arm
  • Buccal – the cheek

It keeps going....

  • Carpel – the wrist
  • Celiac – the abdomen (go fig.. its got two names)
  • Cephalic – the head
  • Cervical – the neck
  • Coxal – the hip
  • Crural – the leg
  • Cubital – the elbow

And going...

  • Digital – the finger
  • Dorsal – the back
  • Femoral – the thigh
  • Frontal – the forehead
  • Gentital – the reproductive organs
  • Gluteal – the buttocks
  • Inguinal – the depressed area of the abdominal wall near the thigh (groin)

And going....

  • Lumbar – the lower back between the ribs and the pelvis
  • Mammary – the breast
  • Mental – the chin
  • Nasal – the nose
  • Occipital – the lower posterior region of the head
  • Oral – the mouth

Still going...

  • Orbital – the eye cavity
  • Otic – the ear
  • Palmar – the palm of the hand
  • Patellar – the front of the knee
  • Pectoral – the chest
  • Pedal- the foot
  • Pelvic – the pelvis
  • Perineal – the region between the anus and the external reproductive organs

Until you're sick of them

  • Plantar – the sole of the foot
  • Popliteal – the area behind the knee
  • Sacral – the posterior region between the hipbones
  • Sternal - the middle of the thorax, anteriorly
  • Tarsal – the instep of the foot
  • Umbilical – the navel
  • Vertebral – the spinal column