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