8. Directional Terms:
The superior or cranial region refers to the upper part of the body, toward the head or above. Inferior or caudal means away from the head or below. Anterior or ventral means in front of. Posterior or dorsal means behind or at the back. Medial is toward the midline of the body. Lateral is away from the midline of the body. Intermediate means between a more medial and a more lateral structure. Proximal is closer to the origin of the body part. Distal is farther from the origin of the body part. Superficial or external is toward or at the bodies surface. Deep is away from the bodies surface; more internal.
Regional Terms: Anterior:
Nasal refers to the nose. Oral refers to the mouth. Cervical refers to the neck. Acromial refers to the point of the shoulder. Axillary refers to the armpit. Abdominal refers to the abdomen. Brachial refers to the arm. Antecubital refers to the front of the elbow. Pelvic refers to the pelvis. Carpal refers to the wrist. Pollex refers to the thumb. Palmar refers to the palm. Digital refers to the fingers. Pubic refers to the genital region. Patellar refers to the anterior knee. Crural refers to the leg. Pedal refers to the foot. tarsal, the ankle and digital the toes. Frontal refers to the forehead. Orbital refers to the eye. Buccal refers to the cheek. Mental refers to the chin. Sternal refers to the breastbone. Thoracic refers to the chest. Mammary refers to the breast. Umbilical refers to the navel. Coxal refers to the hip. Inguinal refers to the groin. Femoral refers to the thigh. Fibular or peroneal refers to the side of the leg. Hallux refers to the great toe.
Posterior:
Cephalic refers to the head. Otic refers to the ear. Occipital refers to the back of the head. Manus refers to the hand. Acromial refers to the point of the shoulder. Vertebral refers to the spinal column. Scapular refers to the shoulder blade. Brachial refers to the arm. Dorsum refers to the back. Olecranal refers to the back of the elbow. Lumbar refers to the loin. Sacral refers to the hips. Gluteal refers to the buttock. Perineal refers to the region between the anus and the external genetalia. Femoral refers to the thigh. Popliteal refers to the back of the knee. Sural refers to the calf. Calcaneal refers to the heel and the plantar refers to the sole.
axial part: main axis of our body
appendicular part: consists of the appendages
sagittal plane: vertical plane that divides the body into left and right parts
median plane or midsagittal plane: lies exactly in the midline
parasagittal planes: all other sagittal planes offset from the midline
frontal planes: lie vertically dividing the body into anterior and posterior parts transverse or horizontal plane: runs horizontally dividing the body into superior and anterior parts also called cross section.
oblique sections: vertical planes