Anatomical Terms

Atlas A (Orientation to Anatomy)

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Thyroid cartilage of larynx

Thyroid gland

Anatomical position
Anatomical planes
Directional terms
Body regions
Body cavities and
membranes
Organ systems
Visual survey of the body

Brachial nerve plexus

Brachiocephalic v.
Subclavian v.
Subclavian a.
Aortic arch

Superior vena
cava
Coracobrachialis m.
Humerus

Axillary v.
Axillary a.
Cephalic v.
Brachial v.
Brachial a.
Heart

Lobes of lung

Spleen
Stomach
Large
intestine

Small intestine
Cecum
Appendix

Tensor fasciae latae m.

Pectineus m.

Adductor longus m.
Gracilis m.

Penis (cut)
Ductus
deferens
Epididymis
T
estis
Scrotum

Adductor magnus m.
Rectus femoris m.

Figure A.14
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Anatomical Position
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display.

Person stands erect

Feet flat on floor

Arms at sides

Palms, face & eyes facing forward

Standard frame of reference for anatomical descriptions &

dissection

McGraw-Hill Companies/Joe DeGrandis, photographer

Figure A.1

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Forearm Positions
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display.

When supinated

palms face forward

or upward
radius & ulna are
parallel

When pronated

palms face rearward

or downward
radius & ulna are
crossed
Figure A.2

A-4

Anatomical Planes and

Sections

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display.

Frontal
plane

Section implies actual cut or

slice to reveal internal
anatomy
Plane implies an imaginary flat
surface passing through the
body

Transverse
plane

Sagittal plane divides body into

right and left regions
Sagittal
plane

McGraw-Hill Companies/Joe DeGrandis, photographer

Figure A.3

median (midsagittal) plane divides body

or organ into equal halves

Frontal (coronal) plane divides body

into anterior (front) & posterior
(back) portions
Transverse (horizontal) plane
divides the body into superior
A-5
(upper) & inferior (lower) portions

Directional Terms
Ventral / Dorsal

Anterior /Posterior

Superior / Inferior

Proximal / Distal

Medial / Lateral

Superficial / Deep

Cephalic

Rostral

Caudal

Intermediate directions - often given as combinations

of these terms (ex. dorsolateral)
Different meanings for humans and four-legged
animals
anterior = ventral surface of human front of chest &
abdomen
anterior (cranial) in a four-legged
animal is head end
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Body Regions
Axial region = head, neck, & trunk
thoracic region = trunk above diaphragm
abdominal region = trunk below diaphragm
divided into quadrants
divided into nine regions by tic-tac-toe grid

Appendicular region = upper & lower limbs

upper limb
arm (brachial region), forearm (antebrachial region),
wrist (carpal region), hand (manual region), fingers
(digits)

lower limb
thigh (femoral region), leg (crural region),
ankle (tarsal region), foot (pedal region), toes (digits)
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Abdominal Quadrants and Regions

Quadrants

Right
upper
quadrant

Left
upper
quadrant

Regions

Hypochondriac
region
Subcostal line

Epigastric
region

Lumbar
region
Right
lower
quadrant

Left
lower
quadrant

Umbilica
l
region

Intertubercular
line
Inguinal region
Midclavicular
line

(a)

Hypogastric
region

(c)

FigureA-8
A.6

Anatomical Terminology
(ventral)

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Cephalic r. (head)
Facial r. (face)
Cervical r. (neck)

Upper limb:
Acromial r.
(shoulder)

Thoracic r. (chest):
Sternal r.
Pectoral r.

Axillary r. (armpit)
Brachial r. (arm)
Cubital r. (elbow)

Umbilical r.

Antebrachial r.
(forearm)

Abdominal r.
Inguinal r. (groin)

Carpal r. (wrist)

Pubic r.:
Mons pubis

Palmar r. (palm)

External genitalia:
Penis
Scrotum
Testes

Lower limb:
Coxal r. (hip)
Patellar r. (knee)

Lower limb:
Femoral r. (thigh)
Crural r. (leg)
Tarsal r. (ankle)
Pedal r. (foot):
Dorsum

(a) Anterior (ventral)

Plantar surface
(sole)

(b) Anterior (ventral)

McGraw-Hill Companies/Joe DeGrandis, photographer

Figure A.5

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Anatomical Terminology
(dorsal)
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Cranial r.
Nuchal r.
(back of neck)
Interscapular r.
Scapular r.
Vertebral r.
Lumbar r.
Sacral r.
Gluteal r.
(buttock)
Dorsum of hand
Perineal r.
Femoral r.
Popliteal r.
Crural r.

Tarsal r.
Calcaneal r.
(heel)
(c) Posterior (dorsal)

(d) Posterior (dorsal)

McGraw-Hill Companies/Joe DeGrandis, photographer

Figure A.5

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Body Cavities and

Membranes
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display.

Cranial cavity

Vertebral canal

Major body cavities

cranial cavity
vertebral canal
meninges

Thoracic cavity

thoracic cavity
abdominopelvic cavity

Diaphragm

Abdominal cavity

Pelvic cavity

abdominal cavity
pelvic cavity

Lined by serous
membranes
(a) Left lateral view

Figure A.7

Filled with viscera

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Cranial Cavity & Vertebral

Canal
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display.

Cranial cavity

Vertebral canal

Thoracic cavity
Diaphragm

cranial cavity
contains brain
lined with meninges

vertebral canal

Abdominal cavity

contains the spinal cord

lined with meninges

Pelvic cavity

(a) Left lateral view

Figure A.7

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