Language of Anatomy

Language

• Special terminology is used to prevent misunderstanding

• Exact terms are used for– Position– Direction– Regions– Structures

Body Sections• Median(sagittal) -

dividing body into equal right and left parts– Midsagittal – left and

right are equal size

• Frontal (coronal)- divides body into ventral and dorsal

• Transverse – divides body into superior and inferior

Superior(cranial)

• Toward head end• The forehead is superior

to the mouth

Inferior(caudal)

• Away from the head• The naval is inferior to

the breastbone

Ventral(Anterior)

• Toward the front of the body

• The breastbone is ventral to the spine

Dorsal(posterior)

• Toward or at the back of the body (behind)

• The heart is dorsal to the breastbone

Medial

• Toward or at the midline of the body

• The heart is medial to the arm

Lateral

• Away from the midline of the body

• The arms are lateral to the heart

Proximal

• Close to the point of attachment of a limb to the body

• The elbow is proximal to the wrist

Distal

• Farther from the point of attachment of a limb to the body

• The wrist is distal to the elbow

Superficial

• Toward or at the bodies surface

• The skin is superficial to the skeleton

• A superficial wound is at the surface

Deep

• Away from the bodies surface

• The skeleton is deep to the skin

Body Cavities• Dorsal body cavity

– Cranial cavity -the brain– Spinal cavity - the spinal

cord

• Ventral body cavity– Thoracic cavity - heart,

lungs and others– Abdominal cavity -

digestive system and most urinary system organs

– Pelvic – reproductive organs

– Abdominopelvic – all of abdominal and pelvic