THE LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY

1. Visible describe or demonstrate anatomical position2. Use proper anatomical terminology to describe body

directions, surfaces, and body planes.3. Locate the major body cavities, list the chief organs in

each cavity

• An initial reference point

• The body is erect

• Feet parallel

• Arms hanging at sides

• Palms facing forward

• Uncomfortable

ANATOMICAL POSITION

Allow medical personnel and anatomist to explain exactly where one body structure is in relation to another. Describe the location of the ears in relation to

the nose The ears are to the right and left of the nose The ears are lateral to the nose

Directional Terms

Directional Terms

Superior/ Inferior

Term Definition Example

Superior (cranial or cephalad)

Toward the head end or upper part of the body; above

The forehead is superior to the nose

Inferior (caudal)

Away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure of the body: below

The naval is inferior to the breastbone

Directional TermsVentral (anterior)/ Dorsal (posterior)

Term Definition Example

Ventral (anterior)

Toward or at the front of the body; in front of

The breastbone (sternum) is anterior to the spine

Dorsal(posterior)

Toward or at the backside of the body; behind

The heart is posterior to the breast bone

Directional Terms

Medial/ Lateral Term Definition Example

Medial Toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of

The heart is medial to the arm

Lateral Away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of

The arms are lateral to the chest

Intermediate Between a more medial and a more lateral structure

The collarbone is intermediate between the breastbone and the shoulder

Directional Terms

Proximal/ Distal Term Definition Example

Proximal Close to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

The elbow is proximal to the wrist (meaning that the elbow is closer to the shoulder or attachment point of the arm than the wrist)

Distal Farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

The knee is distal to the thigh

Directional Terms

Superficial (external)/Deep (internal)

Term Definition Example

Superficial (external)

Toward or at the body surface

The skin is superficial to the skeleton

Deep (internal)

Away from the body surface; more internal

The lungs are deep to the rib cage

REGIONAL TERMSAnterior Body

Landmarks Abdominal/ Umbilical:

anterior body trunk inferior to the ribs

Acromial: point of the shoulder Antebrachial: forearm Antecubital: anterior surface Axillary: armpit Brachial: arm (upper) Buccal: cheek Carpal: wrist Cervical: neck region Coxal: hip Crural: leg Deltoid: curve of the shoulder

formed by the deltoid muscle Digital: fingers, toes

Femoral: thigh Fibular: lateral part of the leg Frontal: forehead Inguinal: area where thigh

meets body trunk; groin Mental: chin Nasal: nose area Oral: mouth Orbital: eye area Patellar: anterior knee Pelvic: area overlying the

pelvis anteriorly Pubic: genital region Sternal: breast bone area Tarsal: ankle region Thoracic: chest Umbilical: naval

REGIONAL TERMSPosterior Body

Landmarks Calcaneal: heel of foot Cephalic: head Femoral: thigh Gluteal: buttock Lumbar: area of back

between the ribs and hips; the loin

Occipital: Posterior surface of the head or base of the skull

Olecranal: posterior surface of the elbow

Plantar: sole of the foot Popliteal: posterior knee

area Sacral: area between the

hips Scapular: shoulder blade

region Sural: the posterior

surface of the leg: the calf Vertebral: area of spinal

column

REGIONAL TERMS

• A plane is an imaginary line on the body.

• Sections• Sagittal – a cut a long the lengthwise or longitudinal, dividing the body into right and left parts

(parasagittal)• Median, or Midsagittal – a cut down the median of the body that spits the body into equal right and left

halves• Frontal/ Coronal – a cut along a lengthwise plane that divides the body or organ into anterior or

posterior parts • Transverse / Cross– a cut along a horizontal plane, dividing the body into superior and inferior parts

BODY PLANES AND SECTIONS

BODY CAVITIESDorsal

Has 2 subdivisions Cranial cavity - brain Spinal cavity - spine

Ventral

Has 2 subdivisions Separated by the diphragm

Thoracic cavity lungs & heart protected by the rib cage Lungs are separated by the

mediastinum Heart , trachea, visceral

organs

Abdominopelvic cavity Abdominal cavity

Stomach Liver Intestines

Pelvic cavity Reproductive organs Bladder Rectum

ABDOMINOPOELVIC CAVITY

QUADRANTS

The abdominopelvic cavity is divided into 4 quadrants RUQ – right upper

quadrant RLQ – right lower

quadrant LUQ – left upper quadrant LLQ – left lower quadrant

9 ABDOMINOPELVIC REGIONS

UMBILICAL Centermost region, deep to

and surrounding the umbilicus (navel) EPIGASTRIC

Superior to the umbilical region

HYPOGASTRIC (PUBIC)Inferior to the umbilical

region RT. & LT. ILIAC or

INGUINALLateral to the hypogastric

region RT. & LT. LUMBER

Lateral to the umbilical region RT. & LT.

HYPOCHONDRIACFlank the epigastric region and contain the lower ribs

Umbilical

Region

Epigastric

Region

Hypogastric

Region

Right Iliac

(inguinal)

Region

Left Iliac (inguinal

)Region

Right lumbarRegion

LeftlumbarRegion

Right hypochondri

acRegion

Right hypochondri

acRegion

9 ABDOMINOPELVIC REGIONS

Oral & Digestive cavities Mouth Digestive Organs Continuous tube from mouth to anus

Nasal Cavity Within and posterior to the nose

Orbital Cavity Orbits in the skull that houses the eyes and

presents them in an anterior position Middle Ear Cavity

Contain tiny bones that transmit sound vibrations to hearing receptors in the middle ear.

Other Body Cavities