Overview
This lecture introduces key anatomical terminology, including anatomical position, regional terms for body areas, and directional terms important for understanding anatomy and physiology.
Anatomical Position
- Anatomical position: standing upright, head forward, feet shoulder-width apart, arms at sides, palms forward, thumbs pointing outward.
- Used as a universal reference for describing body parts and locations.
Regional Terminology: Axial Skeleton
- Axial skeleton: includes head (cephalic), neck (cervical), and trunk.
- Cephalic region: anterior—frontal (forehead), orbital (eyes), nasal (nose), oral (mouth), mental (chin); posterior—occipital (back of head), otic (ears).
- Cervical region: neck (both anterior and posterior).
- Thoracic region: sternal (midline), mammary (breast), axillary (armpit); posterior—scapular (shoulder blade), vertebral (spinal column).
- Abdominal region: general abdomen, umbilical (navel).
- Posterior trunk: lumbar (lower back), sacral (tailbone).
- Pelvic region: inguinal (groin), pubic (genital area).
Regional Terminology: Appendicular Skeleton
- Upper limb regions: acromial (shoulder), brachial (upper arm), olecranon (back of elbow), antecubital (front of elbow), antebrachial (forearm).
- Hand regions: carpal (wrist), metacarpal (back of hand), palmar (palm), digital (fingers), pollex (thumb).
- Lower limb regions: coxal (hip), femoral (thigh), patellar (kneecap), popliteal (back of knee), crural (shin), fibular/peroneal (side of leg), sural (calf).
- Foot regions: tarsal (ankle), calcaneal (heel), metatarsal (top of foot), digital (toes), hallux (big toe).
Directional Terminology
- Anterior (ventral): toward the front; Posterior (dorsal): toward the back.
- Superior: toward the head; Inferior: toward the feet (used only for axial skeleton).
- Medial: toward the midline; Lateral: away from the midline.
- Proximal: closer to the limb’s attachment point; Distal: farther from the attachment point (used for limbs).
- Superficial: near the body surface; Deep: further from the surface.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Anatomical Position — Standard body posture for anatomical reference.
- Axial Skeleton — Head, neck, and trunk parts of the skeleton.
- Appendicular Skeleton — Limbs and girdles attaching them to the axial skeleton.
- Anterior/Ventral — Front of the body.
- Posterior/Dorsal — Back of the body.
- Superior — Toward the head.
- Inferior — Toward the feet.
- Medial — Toward midline.
- Lateral — Away from midline.
- Proximal — Closer to attachment point.
- Distal — Farther from attachment point.
- Superficial — Near the surface.
- Deep — Further inside the body.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review and memorize key regional and directional anatomical terms.
- Practice identifying these regions and directions on diagrams or models.
- Prepare for questions about anatomical position and terminology.