Anatomical Terms

Question 1

Anatomical position, or standard body position

Answer 1

The body is erect with feet slightly apart, with palms facing forward and the thumbs pointing away from the body (anteriorly); important because directional terms refer to the body as if in this position

Question 2

Directional terms

Answer 2

Explain where one body structure is in relation to another (e.g. the ears are LATERAL to the nose)

Question 3

Superior (cranial)

Answer 3

Toward the head end or upper part of a structure or the body; above (e.g. the head is superior to the abdomen)

Question 4

Inferior (caudal)

Answer 4

Away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; below (e.g. the navel is inferior to the chin)

Question 5

Anterior (ventral)

Answer 5

Toward or at the front of the body; in front of (e.g. the breastbone is anterior to the spine)

Question 6

Posterior (dorsal)

Answer 6

Toward or ate the back of the body; behind (e.g. the heart is poster to the breastbone)

Question 7

Medial

Answer 7

Toward or at the middle of the body; on the inner side of (e.g. the heart is medial to the arm)

Question 8

Lateral

Answer 8

Away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of (e.g. the arms are lateral to the chest)

Question 9

Intermediate

Answer 9

Between a more medial and a more lateral structure (e.g.The collarbone is intermediate between the breastbone and shoulder)

Question 10

Proximal

Answer 10

Closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk (e.g. the elbow is proximal to the wrist)

Question 11

Distal

Answer 11

Farther from the origin of a body part or at the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk (e.g. the knee is distal to the thigh)

Question 12

Superficial (external)

Answer 12

Toward or at the body surface (e.g. the skin is superficial to the skeletal muscles)

Question 13

Deep (internal)

Answer 13

Away from the body surface; more internal (e.g. the lungs are deep to the skin)

Question 14

Regional terms

Answer 14

Used to designate specific areas within the major body divisions, includes two fundamental divisions, the axial and the appendicular parts

Question 15

Axial part

Answer 15

Makes up the main axis of the body, includes the head, neck, and trunk

Question 16

Appendicular part

Answer 16

Consists of the appendages, or limbs, which are attached to the body’s axis

Question 17

Cephalic regions

Answer 17

Includes frontal, orbital, nasal, oral, mental, otic, occipital (back of head)

Question 18

Cervical region

Answer 18

Neck area

Question 19

Thoracic

Answer 19

Includes sternal, auxiliary, mammary

Question 20

Abdominal

Answer 20

Includes umbilical

Question 21

Pelvic

Answer 21

Includes inguinal (groin)

Question 22

Pubic

Answer 22

Includes genital

Question 23

Back (dorsal)

Answer 23

Includes scapular, vertebral, lumbar, sacral, gluteal, perineal (between anus and external genitalia)

Question 24

Upper limb

Answer 24

Includes lacrimal, brachial (arm), antecubital, olecranal, ante brachial (forearm), carpal (wrist)

Question 25

Manus (hand)

Answer 25

Includes metacarpal, palmar, polled, digital

Question 26

Lower limb

Answer 26

Includes coal (hip), femoral (thigh), patellar, popliteal, crural (leg), rural (calf), fibular or peroneal

Question 27

Pedal (foot)

Answer 27

tarsal (ankle), calcaneal, metatarsal, digital, plantar, hallux

Question 28

Section, or plane

Answer 28

The flat surface where the body is often cut for anatomical studies

Question 29

Name 4 different planes

Answer 29

sagittal, frontal, transverse, and oblique; the first 3 lie at right angles to each other, the last is seldom used

Question 30

Sagittal planes, "arrow"

Answer 30

A vertical plane that divides the body into right and left parts; includes median (or midsagittal) planes and parasagittal planes

Question 31

Median, or midsagittal, planes

Answer 31

a sagittal plane that lies exactly in the midline

Question 32

Parasagittal planes

Answer 32

All other sagittal planes, offset from the midline

Question 33

Frontal, or coronal, planes

Answer 33

Vertical planes that divide the body into anterior and posterior parts

Question 34

Transverse, or horizontal, plane

Answer 34

Runs horizontally from left to right, dividing the body into superior and inferior parts; also called a "cross section"

Question 35

Oblique sections

Answer 35

Cuts made diagonally between the horizontal and the vertical planes; often confusing and difficult to interpret and so are seldom used

Question 36

append-

Answer 36

to hang something; appendicular: pertaining to the limbs

Question 37

cardi-

Answer 37

heart; pericardium: membrane that surrounds the heart

Question 38

cran-

Answer 38

helmet; cranial: pertaining to the portion of the skull that surrounds the brain

Question 39

dors-

Answer 39

back; dorsal: position toward the back

Question 40

homeo-

Answer 40

same; homeostasis: maintenance of a stable internal environment

Question 41

-logy

Answer 41

study of; physiology: study of body functions

Question 42

meta-

Answer 42

change; metabolism

Question 43

pariet-

Answer 43

wall; parietal membrane: membrane that lines the wall of a cavity

Question 44

pelv-

Answer 44

basin; pelvic cavity: basin-shaped cavity enclosed by the pelvic bones

Question 45

peri-

Answer 45

around; pericardial membrane: membrane that surrounds the heart

Question 46

pleur-

Answer 46

rib; pleural membrane: membrane that encloses the lungs and lines the thoracic cavity

Question 47

-stasis

Answer 47

standing still; homeostasis: maintenance of a stable internal environment

Question 48

-tomy

Answer 48

cutting; anatomy: study of structure, which often involves cutting or removing body parts

Question 49

acromial

Answer 49

the point of the shoulder

Question 50

antebrachial

Answer 50

the forearm

Question 51

antecubital

Answer 51

the space infant of the elbow

Question 52

axillary

Answer 52

the armpit

Question 53

brachial

Answer 53

the arm

Question 54

buccal

Answer 54

the cheek

Question 55

carpal

Answer 55

the wrist

Question 56

celiac

Answer 56

the abdomen

Question 57

costal

Answer 57

the ribs

Question 58

coxal

Answer 58

the hip

Question 59

crural

Answer 59

the leg

Question 60

cubital

Answer 60

the elbow

Question 61

digital

Answer 61

the finger

Question 62

dorsal

Answer 62

the back

Question 63

femoral

Answer 63

the thigh

Question 64

frontal

Answer 64

the forehead

Question 65

genital

Answer 65

the reproductive organs

Question 66

gluteal

Answer 66

the buttocks

Question 67

inguinal

Answer 67

the depressed area of the abdominal wall near the thigh (groin)

Question 68

lumbar

Answer 68

the region of the lower back between the ribs and the pelvis (loin)

Question 69

mammary

Answer 69

the breast

Question 70

mental

Answer 70

the chin

Question 71

nasal

Answer 71

the nose

Question 72

occipital

Answer 72

the lower posterior region of the head

Question 73

oral

Answer 73

the mouth

Question 74

orbital

Answer 74

the eye cavity

Question 75

otic

Answer 75

the ear

Question 76

palmar

Answer 76

the palm of the hand

Question 77

patellar

Answer 77

the front of the knee

Question 78

pectoral

Answer 78

the chest

Question 79

perineal

Answer 79

the region between the anus and the external reproductive organs (perineum)

Question 80

plantar

Answer 80

the sole of the foot

Question 81

popliteal

Answer 81

the area behind the knee

Question 82

sacral

Answer 82

the posterior region between the hipbones

Question 83

sternal

Answer 83

the middle of the thorax, anteriorly

Question 84

tarsal

Answer 84

the instep of the foot

Question 85

umbilical

Answer 85

the navel

Question 86

vertebral

Answer 86

the spinal column