Anatomical Terminologies
Language of Anatomy Body Cavities
Anatomy - identify the structures Major Subdivisions of the Dorsal
and parts of the body Body
Physiology - body processes Cranial Cavity (brain - protected
by skull)
Anatomical Position - standard
position used to avoid confusion; Spinal Cavity (spinal cord -
terminology refers to this position protected by vertebrae)
regardless of actual body position
Major Subdivisions of the Ventral
1. Stand Erect Body - separated by diaphragm
2. Feet Parallel Thoracic Cavity - heart, lungs,
esophagus, ribs
3. Arms hanging at side and
palms facing forward diaphragm
4. Thumb is pointing away from Abdominopelvic Cavity -
the body (abdominal and pelvic cavity)
digestive organs, liver, spleen,
pancreas
Abdominopelvic Cavity
Subdivisions (4 Quadrants)
Right Upper Quadrant
(RUQ) - majority of liver, gall
bladder, transverse colon
Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)
- stomach, transverse colon
Right Lower Quadrant
(RLQ) - appendix, start of
large intestine
(cecum/ascending colon)
Anatomical Terminologies 1
Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)
- descending colon
Nine Regions
Other Cavities
Oral & Digestive Cavities
Nasal Cavities
Orbital Cavities
Middle Ear Cavities
Directional Terms Body Planes & Sections
Superior - any structure above Sections are cuts along
another structure imaginary lines known as planes
(upper/higher/cranial/cephalic/towards
Three types of planes or sections
the head)
exist as RIGHT angles to one
Inferior - (caudal/towards the another
tail/away from the
The three types of planes:
head/lower/below)
Sagittal Plane
Anterior - ventral/towards the
front/in front of divides the body into left and
right parts
Posterior - dorsal/towards the
back/behind median plane/midsagittal
section of an organ
Anatomical Terminologies 2
Midline - separates the left and right Frontal (coronal plane)
side of body
divides the body into anterior
Medial - towards the and posterior parts (front and
center/middle/midline back)
Lateral - away from the midline Transverse (horizontal
plane/cross-section)
Intermediate - between a more
medial and a more lateral divides the body into superior
structure/nasa gitna ng medial and inferior parts
and lateral
Proximal - close to origin of the
Movement Terminology
body part/point of attachment to
limb to the body trunk Flexion - movement that forms
an acute angle between two
Distal - farther/away to the origin
approximating body parts; angle
of the body part/point of
is decreased
attachment to the body trunk
Extension - movement that
Superficial - external/nasa
forms an obtuse angle between
ibabaw/labas/towards the body
two approximating body parts;
surface
angle is increased
Deep - away from the body
Abduction - any movement
surface/more internal
away from the midline of the
body
Regional Terms Fingers = away from the middle
finger
Anterior or Ventral Body
Landmarks Toes = away from the 2nd toe
Head/Cranial/Cephalic Adduction - any movement
Region towards the midline
Cranial (skull) Rotation
Facial (face) Internal Rotation (medial
rotation) - anterior surface of
Neck/Cervical Region
a part facing medially
Trunk
Anatomical Terminologies 3
Exterior Rotation (lateral
rotation) - anterior surface of
Upper Limb/Upper Extremity
a part facing laterally
Axillary (armpit)
Circumduction - combination of
Brachial (arm) flexion, abduction, extension, and
Artecubital (front of adduction (circling only upper
elbow) and lower libs)
Antebrachial (forearm) Protraction - movement of body
towards the front/anterior
Carpal (wrist)
Retraction - movement of body
Manual (hand)
towards the back/posterior
Palmar or Volar (palm)
Elevation - raise a body part
Digital or Phalangeal
Depression - lower a body part
(fingers)
Pronation - medial rotation of the
Lower Limb/Lower Extremity
forearm (palm and hand faces
Femoral (thigh) posteriorly)
Patellar (anterior surface Supination - lateral rotation of
of knee) the forearm from pronated
position (palm and hand faces
Crural (leg)
anteriorly)
Pedal (foot)
Inversion - sole faces in a
Tarsal (ankle) medial direction/inward
Digital or Phalangeal Eversion - sole faces in a lateral
(toes) direction/outward
Dorsum (top of foot)
Hallux (great toe)
Posterior or Dorsal Body
Landmarks
Occipital (base of the skull)
Dorsal (back)
Anatomical Terminologies 4
Lumbar (loin)
Olecranal or Cubital (back of
elbow)
Dorsum (back of the hand)
Sacral (between hips)
Gluteal (buttock)
Popliteal (hollow behind
knee)
Sural (calf)
Plantar (sole)
Calcaneal (heel)
Anatomical Terminologies 5
