Anatomy Regional Terms

Major Regions of the Body

• Axial Region: Head, neck, trunk
  • Mnemonic: "Ax" in Axial relates to ax (tool) used on trunk (tree trunk analogy).
• Appendicular Region: Upper and lower limbs
  • Mnemonic: Appendages are structures that attach or extend from another structure.

Axial Region

Head Regions

• Cephalic: Entire head
  • "C" to "lick" helps remember this region.
• Cranial: Skull area
  • Rhymes with "branial" (houses the brain).
• Frontal: Forehead
  • "Front" of the head.
• Ocular: Eye region
  • Related to binoculars (vision-related).
• Otic: Ear region
  • Use of "otoscope" for ear inspection.
• Nasal: Nose area
  • Nasal spray is used in this region.
• Buccal: Cheeks
  • Medication can be administered via buccal route.
• Oral: Mouth
  • Oral medication means by mouth.
• Mental: Chin
  • Mnemonic: Men tend to have larger chins.
• Occipital: Back/base of skull
  • Includes occipital lobe and bone.

Neck Region

• Cervical: Neck
  • Includes cervical vertebrae (spine).

Trunk Regions

• Thoracic: Between neck and abdomen
  • Thorax region; includes thoracic vertebrae.
• Axillary: Armpit
  • Ax deodorant for armpit.
• Mammary: Breast
  • Active in females post-pregnancy.
• Sternal: Sternum area
  • Resembles a necktie.
• Abdominal: Abdomen
  • Can be divided into quadrants or nine regions.
• Umbilical: Navel/belly button
  • Area of umbilical cord attachment.
• Pelvic: Between hip bones
  • Elvis and the pelvis.
• Inguinal: Near inguinal hernias
  • Intestines can protrude here.
• Pubic: External genitalia
  • Development of pubic hair at puberty.
• Perineal: Between genitals and anus
  • Nurses perform "pericare" here.

Posterior Trunk

• Dorsal: Back
  • Dorsal fin analogy.
• Vertebral: Spine
  • Area along the spine.
• Lumbar: Lower back
  • "Lumbar support" for lower back pain.
• Sacral: Lower back
  • Home of the sacrum bone.
• Gluteal: Buttocks
  • Glute muscles (gluteal region).

Appendicular Region

Upper Limb

• Acromial: Shoulder
  • Acrobats stand on acromial region.
• Brachial: Arm
  • Includes biceps and triceps brachii.
• Antecubital: Front of elbow
  • "AC" in medical jargon.
• Olecranal: Back of elbow
  • Olecranon; during pandemic used for elbow bump.
• Antibrachial: Forearm
  • Differentiation between arm and forearm.
• Carpal: Wrist
  • Carpals help drive a car.
• Manual: Hand
  • Manual labor involves hands.
• Metacarpal: Beyond wrist
  • Palm area is also the palmar region.
• Pollux: Thumb
  • Region of the thumb.
• Digital: Fingers
  • Fingers for digital actions.

Lower Limb

• Coxal: Hip area
  • Cowboy "cocks" gun at the coxal region.
• Femoral: Thigh
  • Contains femur bone and femoral artery.
• Patellar: Front of knee
  • Patella is the kneecap bone.
• Popliteal: Back of knee
  • Used to "pop a squat."
• Crural: Front of leg
  • Cricketers wear pads for crural protection.
• Sural: Calf muscle
• Pedal: Foot
  • Used to pedal a bike.
• Calcaneal: Heel
  • Calluses can form on the heel.
• Tarsal: Ankle
  • Tarsals closer to toes than carpals.
• Metatarsal: Beyond ankle
• Hallux: Big toe
  • Used to walk down the hall.
• Digital (lower limb): Toes
• Plantar: Sole of foot
  • Location of plantar warts.

Additional Resources

• Free quiz and anatomy video playlist available.