ANATOMICAL

TERMINOLOGY
BODY POSITIONS

• SUPINE POSITION When the body is

lying face up.

• PRONE POSITION When the body is

lying face down
ANATOMICAL POSITION

Body is erect/standing with arms at

sides and palms turned forward.
BILATERAL SYMMETRY

• Right and the left portion

of the body are equally
divided
BODY CAVITIES

Two types of body cavities:

• 1. Ventral Cavity: Consist of Thoracic Cavity and Abdominopelvic

cavity.

• 2. Dorsal Cavity: Include Cranial Cavity and Spinal cavit

BODY CAVITIES
BODY CAVITIES

Thoracic Cavity:
• a) Pleural cavities: Surrounds the lungs. The serous membrane is
called “Pleura” that contains “pleural fluid”.
• b) Pericardial cavity: Surrounds the Heart. The serous membrane
is “Pericardium”.
• c) Mediastinum: Central portion of the thoracic cavity between
the lungs. It contains Oesophagus, Trachea, heart and large blood
vessels
REGIONAL NAMES

Abdominal: Anterior torso below diaphragm

Acromial: Shoulder
Antebrachial: Forearm
Antecubital: Depressed area in front of elbow
Axillary: Armpit
Brachial: Arm
Buccal: Cheek (inside)
REGIONAL NAMES
Calcaneal: Heel of foot
Carpal: Wrist
Cephalic: Head
Cervical: Neck
Coxal: Hip
Cranial: skull
Crural: Leg
Cubital: Elbow
Cutaneous: Skin
REGIONAL NAMES

Digital: Fingers or toes

Dorsal: Back or top
Facial: Face
Femoral: Thigh
Frontal: Forehead
Gluteal: Buttock
Hallux: Great toe
Inguinal: Groin
Lumbar: Lower part of back between ribs and pelvis
REGIONAL NAMES

Mammary: Breast
Manual: Hand
Mental: Chin
Nasal: Nose
Navel: Umblicus
Occipital: Back of lower part of skull
Olecranal: Back of elbow
Oral: Mouth
Orbital or opthalmic: Eyes
REGIONAL NAMES

• Otic: Ear
• Palmar: Palm of hand
• Patellar: Front of knee
• Pedal: Foot Pelvic: Lower portion of torso
• Perineal: Area between anus and genitals
• Plantar: Sole of foot
• Pollex: Thumb
• Popliteal: Area behind the knee
REGIONAL NAMES

Supraclavicular: Area above clavicle

Sural: Calf Tarsal: Ankle
Temporal: Side of skull
Thoracic: Chest
Zygomatic: Cheek
DIRECTIONAL TERMS
It describes the position of one body part relative
to another.
Directional terms Definition

Superior(cephalic) Towards the head or the upper part of a

structure

Inferior(caudal) Away from head or lower part

Anterior(ventral) At the front of the body

Posteriorr (dorsal) At the back of the body

BODY PLANES AND SECTIONS
PLANES

• Imaginary flat surfaces that pass through the body parts.

PLANES

• Sagittal plane: Vertical plane that divides the body surface into
right and left side.

a) Midsaggital/Median plane: Passes through midline of the

body/organ and divides into right and left sides.
b) b) Parasagittal plane: Does not pass through the midline. Divides
the body/organ into unequal right and left sides
PLANES (contd..)

• Frontal or Coronal Plane: It

divides the body into
anterior and posterior
portion
PLANES (contd..)

• 3. Transverse/Cross
sectional/Horizontal Plane: Divides
the body into superior and inferior
portion.
PLANES (contd..)

• Oblique Plane: Passes through the body or

an angle between the transverse
plane/sagittal or frontal plane