Anatomical Terminologies
Language of Anatomy Body Cavities
Anatomy - identify the structures
and parts of the body
Physiology - body processes
Anatomical Position - standard
position used to avoid confusion;
terminology refers to this position
regardless of actual body position
1. Stand Erect
2. Feet Parallel
3. Arms hanging at side and
palms facing forward
4. Thumb is pointing away from
the body
Anatomical Terminologies
Major Subdivisions of the Dorsal
Body
Cranial Cavity (brain - protected
by skull)
Spinal Cavity (spinal cord -
protected by vertebrae)
Major Subdivisions of the Ventral
Body - separated by diaphragm
Thoracic Cavity - heart, lungs,
esophagus, ribs
diaphragm
Abdominopelvic Cavity -
(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)
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