Anatomy Regional Terms Overview

Major Body Regions

• Axial Region
  • Covers: Head, neck, and trunk
  • Memory Aid: "Ax to chop the trunk"
• Appendicular Region
  • Includes: Upper and lower limbs
  • Memory Aid: "Appendage - attaches to the main structure"

Axial Region

Head

• Cephalic: Entire head region
  • Memory Aid: "C for see, lick for lick - head has eyes and mouth"
• Cranial: Skull
  • Memory Aid: "Cranial rhymes with branial - houses the brain"
• Frontal: Forehead
  • Memory Aid: "Forehead - front of the head"
• Ocular: Eyes
  • Memory Aid: "Use binoculars with the ocular"
• Otic: Ears
  • Memory Aid: "Otoscope used for ear inspection"
• Nasal: Nose
  • Memory Aid: "Nasal spray goes in the nose"
• Buccal: Cheeks
  • Memory Aid: "Medication via buccal route - inside cheek"
• Oral: Mouth
  • Memory Aid: "Take medication orally - by mouth"
• Mental: Chin
  • Memory Aid: "Men have prominent chins"
• Occipital: Back/base of skull
  • Connected to: Occipital lobe and bone

Neck

• Cervical: Neck
  • Includes: Cervical vertebrae/spine

Trunk

• Thoracic: Between neck and abdomen
  • Includes: Thoracic vertebrae
• Axillary: Armpit
  • Memory Aid: "Ax deodorant for axillary"
• Mammary: Breast
  • Memory Aid: "Mammary glands - produce milk"
• Sternal: Between mammary (sternum bone)
  • Memory Aid: "Necktie-shaped bone"
• Abdominal: Abs region
  • Note: Can be divided into quadrants or regions
• Umbilical: Navel/belly button
  • Memory Aid: "Umbilical cord attachment"
• Pelvic: Hip bones
  • Memory Aid: "Elvis shook his pelvis"
• Inguinal: Groin
  • Memory Aid: "Inguinal hernias in this region"
• Pubic: External genitalia
  • Memory Aid: "Puberty - pubic hair growth"
• Perineal: Between genitalia and anus
  • Memory Aid: "Pericare - clean from front to back"

Posterior Trunk

• Dorsal: Back
  • Memory Aid: "Dolphin's dorsal fin"
• Vertebral: Spine
  • Memory Aid: "Vertebrae along the spine"
• Lumbar: Lower back
  • Memory Aid: "Lumbar support for lower back pain"
• Sacral: Lower back (sacrum bone)
  • Memory Aid: "Human soul resides in sacrum"
• Gluteal: Buttocks
  • Memory Aid: "Gluteal muscles - glutes"

Appendicular Region

Upper Limb

• Acromial: Shoulder
  • Memory Aid: "Acrobats stand on acromial region"
• Brachial: Arm
  • Includes: Biceps brachii, triceps brachii
• Antecubital: Front of elbow
  • Memory Aid: "Ante - in front of, cubital - elbow"
• Olecranal: Back of elbow
  • Memory Aid: "Elbow bump during pandemic"
• Antebrachial: Forearm
  • Note: Forearm is distinct from the arm
• Carpal: Wrist
  • Memory Aid: "Carpals drive a car"
• Manual: Hands
  • Memory Aid: "Manual labor uses hands"
• Palmar: Palm
  • Memory Aid: "Palm is in the palmar region"
• Pollex: Thumb
  • Memory Aid: "Give a pollex up"
• Digital: Fingers
  • Memory Aid: "Use digital region to click buttons"

Lower Limb

• Coxal: Hip
  • Memory Aid: "Cowboy cocking gun at coxal"
• Femoral: Thigh
  • Includes: Femur, femoral artery, quadriceps femoris
• Patellar: Front of knee
  • Memory Aid: "Patella - kneecap bone"
• Popliteal: Back of knee
  • Memory Aid: "Pop a squat with popliteal"
• Crural: Front of leg (knee to ankle)
  • Memory Aid: "Cricket pads cover crural region"
• Sural: Calf/back of leg
• Pedal: Foot
  • Memory Aid: "Pedal a bicycle with pedals"
• Calcaneal: Heel
  • Memory Aid: "Calcanus - callus on heel"
• Tarsal: Ankle
  • Memory Aid: "Tarsals near toes"
• Metatarsal: Beyond tarsals
  • Note: "Meta - beyond"
• Hallux: Big toe
  • Memory Aid: "Walk down hall with hallux"
• Plantar: Sole of foot
  • Memory Aid: "Plantar wart location"