Overview
This lecture covers the general orientation of human anatomy, focusing on anatomical terminology, body planes, and directional terms essential for exams.
Common Anatomical Terms (Anterior)
- Cephalic refers to the head, cranial to the skull, and facial to the face.
- Frontal means forehead; temporal is temple; orbital/ocular is eye; otic is ear; buccal is cheek; nasal is nose.
- Oral means mouth; mental is chin.
- Cervical is neck; axillary is armpit; brachial is arm; antebrachial is forearm.
- Carpal means wrist; palmar is palm; pollex is thumb; digital/phalangeal is fingers.
- Sternal is breastbone; thoracic is chest; mammary is breast; abdominal is abdomen; umbilical is navel.
- Coxal is hip; femoral is thigh; patellar is front knee; crural is shin; pedal is foot; tarsal is ankle.
- Digital/phalangeal also means toes; dorsum is back/top of hand/foot; hallux is big toe.
- Manual is hand; pelvic is pelvis; inguinal is groin; pubic is pubis.
Common Anatomical Terms (Posterior)
- Occipital is base of skull; acromial is shoulder; scapular is shoulder blade; vertebral is spinal column.
- Dorsal is back; olecranal/cubital is back of elbow; lumbar is lower back.
- Sacral is between hips; coccygeal is tailbone; gluteal is buttock; perineal is between anus/external genitalia.
- Popliteal is back of knee; sural is calf; plantar is sole of foot; calcaneal is heel.
Anatomical Planes
- Transverse (horizontal) plane divides body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts; allows rotational/twisting movements.
- Frontal (coronal) plane separates anterior (front) and posterior (back); movement is side-to-side (abduction/adduction).
- Sagittal (lateral) plane divides body into left and right; movement is forward/backward (flexion/extension).
Anatomical Directional Terms
- Anterior: front or forward-facing side of the body.
- Posterior: back or rear side of the body.
- Medial: closer to the midline of the body.
- Lateral: farther from the midline.
- Superior: above or higher than another part.
- Inferior: below or lower than another part.
- Proximal: closer to the limb's point of attachment to the body.
- Distal: farther from the point of attachment.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Anterior — front side of the body.
- Posterior — back side of the body.
- Medial — closer to the midline.
- Lateral — farther from the midline.
- Superior — above another body part.
- Inferior — below another body part.
- Proximal — closer to point of limb attachment.
- Distal — farther from point of limb attachment.
- Transverse Plane — divides body into upper and lower sections.
- Frontal (Coronal) Plane — divides body into front and back.
- Sagittal Plane — divides body into left and right.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review and memorize anatomical terms, planes, and directional terminology for upcoming exams.