INTRODUCTION TO ANATOMICAL TERMINOLOGY

I. THE ANATOMICAL POSITION: In all anatomical descriptions, it is assumed that the body is in the
standing position, toes pointed forward, arms at the side with palms facing forward and the
face towards the observer.
II. PLANES OF THE BODY - see figure
A. sagittal - a vertical plane that separates left side from right side
B. mid-sagittal - a sagittal plane in the midline
C. parasagittal - any sagittal plane not in the midline
D. coronal or frontal - a vertical plane that separates front from back
E. horizontal or transverse - a cross-section of the body or organ
III. RELATIONSHIPS: describes relative location - see figures p.4-5
A. anterior - toward the front
B. caudad - toward the tail
C. central - toward the center
D. cephalad - toward the head
E. contralateral - opposite side
F. deep - further from the surface
G. distal - farther from the trunk or point of origin
H. dorsal - toward the back
I. external - toward the outside
J. inferior - lower or below
K. internal - away from the surface
L. ipsilateral - same side
M. lateral - further from the midline
N. medial - closer to the midline
0. median - in the midline
P. Parietal - pertaining to external wall of body cavity
Q. peripheral - away from center
R. posterior - toward the back
S. proximal - closer to trunk or point of origin
T. rostral - toward the head
U. superficial - closer to the surface
V. superior - upper or above
W. ventral - toward the front
X. visceral - pertaining to an organ
Y. opposites
1. anterior - posterior 2. central -peripheral
3. medial - lateral 4. dorsal - ventral
5. deep - superficial 6. external - internal
7. inferior - superior 8. ipsilateral - contralateral
9. parietal - visceral 10. proximal - distal
11. rostral (cephalad) - caudad

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IV. Movements
A. Abduction - movement away from the midline
B. Adduction - movement toward the midline
C. Anteflexion - bending forward
D. Anteversion - tipping forward
E. Depression - lowering down, downward movement
F. Dorsiflexion - moving foot toward its dorsal surface
G. Elevation - raising up, upward movement
H. Eversion - turning outward
I. Extension - opposite to flexion, increasing the angle of a joint
J. Flexion - bending, decreasing the angle of a joint
K. Hyperextension - extension beyond normal
L. Inversion - turning inward
M. Lateral flexion - bending to one side
N. Lateral rotation - anterior surface turning away from midline
O. Plantar flexion - moving foot toward its plantar surface
P. Medial rotation - anterior surface turning toward midline
Q. Pronation - movement toward the prone position
R. Prone - lying face down
S. Protraction - forward movement
T. Retraction - backward movement
U. Retroflexion - bending backward
V. Retroversion - tipping backward
W. Supination - movement toward the supine position
X. Supine - lying face up
Y. Opposites
1. abduction - adduction
2. anteversion - retroversion
3. anteflexion - retroflexion
4. dorsiflexion - plantar flexion
5. elevation - depression
6. eversion - inversion
7. flexion - extension
8. medial rotation - lateral rotation
9. prone - supine
10. pronation - supination
11. protraction - retraction

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V. PREFIXES, SUFFIXES AND WORDS
a = from ad = to am = around
a = not ad = toward ambi, ambo = in two directions
ab = from amphi = on both sides again = through
ante = before anti = against cervix = neck
circum = around -cis = cut -cle = small
com, cum = together contra = against cubitum = elbow
de = from di = two, double dia = through
dis = asunder, not, apart ec = out of ect = outside
en = in, on endo = within ento = within
epi = upon ex = out of exto = outside
extra = outside hallux = great toe hamus = hook
hamulus = little hook hydro = water hyper = above
hypo = under -iasis = disease in = in
in = not infra = beneath inter = between
-itis = inflammation intro = within juxta = near to
lamel-, lamin- = thin plate litho = stone manus = hand
mast = breast meso = middle met-, meta-, = after, beyond
neo = new non = not nucha = back of neck
ob = against -oid = like os, oss = bone
oste = bone os, ostium = mouth, door para = beside
per = through pen = around phil = lower
pollex = thumb porta = gate post = after
pre = before preter = beyond pro = for or before
pros = in front of retro = backward sect = cut
sep = putrefy serr = saw sinus = basin
stom = mouth sub = under super = above
supra = above syn = together or with thel = nipple
trans = across -ule = diminutive suffix ultra = beyond
uncus = hook vagus = wandering vas = duct

VI. SINGULAR VERSUS PLEURAL

A. foramen--foramina
B. ganglion--ganglia
C. lamina--laminae
D. plexus--plexuses
E. ramus--rami
F. vertebra--vertebrae

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