Anatomical Language

Human Anatomy & Physiology Honors

2014 – 2015

Ms. Chase

Anatomical Position

Body erect,

feet slightly apart,

palms facing forward,

thumbs point away

from the body

DIRECTIONAL TERMS Allow medical personnel and anatomists to explain

where a body part is in relation/compared to another

body part

Anterior

• FRONT

• “Ante” = in front of

• AKA Ventral (hand

trick!)

Posterior

• Back

• “Post” = after

• AKA “Dorsal” (hand

trick!) or dorsal fin

Superior

• Toward the top of the

body

• “super” = above or

over

Inferior

• Toward the bottom of

the body

• “Infer” = beneath

Medial

• Toward the midline of

the body

• Sounds like MIDDLE!

Lateral

• Toward the outside of

the body/ away from

the midline

• Lateral = to the side

Proximal • Close to the trunk of

the body

• “Proximity” =

nearness or

closeness

• Can only refer to

something on a

limb/appendage

Distal

• Away from the trunk

of the body

• Sounds like

“DISTANT” (far)

• Can only refer to

something on a

limb/appendage

Superficial

• Toward the surface of

the body

• People who are

“superficial”…

Deep

• More internal/ away

from the surface

Let’s Review!

• On your Blank Man (no lines), draw and

label arrows for all Directional terms.

Homework

• Create Flash Cards for all Directional

terms.

• Terms: Anterior, Posterior, Superior, Inferior,

Medial, Lateral, Proximal, Distal, Superficial

Deep

• Side 1: Term and Picture

• Side 2: Definition and Sample Sentence (use

the Directional term in a sentence)

ANTERIOR LANDMARKS Front of the body

ABDOMINAL

• Stomach

• “Abs”!

ACROMIAL

• Point of shoulder

• Acromial Process

• Acriomoclavicular

Joint

ANTECUBITAL

• Front of elbow

• “Ante” = before

• “Cubitum” = Elbow

AXILLARY

• Armpit

• Axillary Lymph Nodes

• Axillary Nerve

Brachial

• Arm

• Brachial Artery

Buccal

• Cheek

• Buccal Mucosa

Carpal

• Wrist

• Carpal Tunnel

Syndrome

Cervical

• Neck

• Cervical Vertebrae

Coxal

• Hip

• Coxal Bone

Crural

• Leg (LOWER)

• Shin Splints may

occur here

Digital

• Fingers or Toes

Femoral

• Thigh

• Femur

Fibular

• Lateral side of leg

• Fibula

Inguinal

• Groin

• Where the femoral

region meets the

trunk

• Inguinal Lymph

Nodes

Nasal

• Nose

• Nasal Cavity

• Nasal Spray

Oral

• Mouth

• Oral Herpes

• Oral Cavity

Orbital

• Eye area

• “Circular”

• Orbital Cellulitis

Patellar

• Knee

• Patella = knee cap

Pelvic • Overlying the pelvis

• Intermediate between

abdominal and pubic

regions

Pubic • Genital region

• Pubic Hair (or lack

of…)

Sternal • Breastbone area

• Sternum

• Sternal Saw

Tarsal • Ankle Area

• Tarsal Bones

Thoracic • Chest

• Thoracic Vertebrae

• Thoracic Cavity

Umbilical • Navel or belly button

• Umbilical Cord

• Piercing!

POSTERIOR LANDMARKS Back of the body

Calcaneal • Heel of Foot

• Calcaneus: large

bone forming the heel

• Calcaneal Spur

Cephalic • Head

• Cephalopods =

marine animals with

large heads

• Octopus or squid

Deltoid • Curve of shoulder

• Deltoid Muscle

Femoral • Thigh

• Femur

Gluteal • buttock

• Gluteus Muscles

• Maximus

• Medius

• Minimus

Lumbar • Lower back between

ribs and hips

• Lumbar region of

spine

• Lumbar spondylosis

Occiptal • Posterior surface of

the head

• Occipital Lobe of

brain

• Occipital Bone

Olecranal • Back of elbow

• Olecranon Process

• Olecranon Bursitis

Plantar • Sole of the foot

• Actually on the

inferior body surface

• Plantar Warts

Popliteal • Back of the knee

• Popliteal Artery

Sacral • Between the hips/

tailbone area

• Sacrum

• Sacral Dimple

Scapular • Shoulder Blade

• Scapula

• Suprascapular Nerve

or Artery

Sural • Lower leg; CALF

• Gastrocnemius

• Sural Artery Surgery

Vertebral • Area of Spine (AKA

Vertebral Column)

• Vertrbra(e)

Let’s Review!

• Identify the Regional terms for all leader

lines on your diagram.

CSI Break

• Directional Terms

• In a complete sentence, identify which directional

terms you can use to describe what is happening in

the CSI

• Use each term in a sentence to describe the CSI.

• Regional Terms

• In a complete sentence, identify which regional terms

you can use to describe what is happening in the CSI

• Use each term in a sentence to describe the CSI.

Homework • Create Flash Cards for all Regional terms.

• Terms: abdominal, acromial, antecubital, axillary,

brachial, buccal, carpal, cervical, coxal, crural, digital,

femoral, fibular, inguinal, nasal, oral, orbital, patellar,

pelvic, pubic, sternal, tarsal, thoracic, umbilical,

calcaneal, cephalic, deltoid, femoral, gluteal, lumbar,

occipital, olecranal, plantar, popliteal, sacral,

scapular, sural, vertebral

• Side 1: Term and Picture

• Side 2: Definition and Sample Sentence (use the

Regional term in a sentence)

• all sentences should have context clues that hint

the meaning of the word