Anatomy: Regional Terms Lecture

Overview

• Two Major Regions of the Body:
  • Axial Region: Head, neck, and trunk.
  • Appendicular Region: Upper and lower limbs.

Axial Region

Head

• Cephalic: Entire head region
  • Mnemonic: Begins with "c" and ends with "lick," relates to seeing and licking (head functions).
• Cranial: Skull
  • Mnemonic: "Cranial" sounds like "branial," houses the brain.
• Frontal: Forehead
  • Mnemonic: Front is like "forehead."
• Ocular: Eyes
  • Mnemonic: Use binoculars for ocular (eye) functions.
• Otic: Ears
  • Mnemonic: Otoscope is used for examining the otic area (ears).
• Nasal: Nose
  • Mnemonic: Nasal spray is for the nose.
• Buccal: Cheeks
  • Mnemonic: Buccal administration (medicine inside cheek).
• Oral: Mouth
  • Mnemonic: Medication taken orally means through the mouth.
• Mental: Chin
  • Mnemonic: "Men" and "mental" both relate to chin.
• Occipital: Back/base of skull
  • Mnemonic: Related to occipital lobe and bone in the head.

Neck

• Cervical: Neck
  • Mnemonic: Cervical vertebrae in neck region.

Trunk

• Thoracic: Between neck and abdomen
  • Mnemonic: Thorax in insects, thoracic vertebrae.
• Axillary: Armpit
  • Mnemonic: Ax deodorant is for axillary area.
• Mammary: Breast region
  • Mnemonic: Mammals breastfeed from this region.
• Sternal: Sternum area
  • Mnemonic: Sternum looks like a necktie.
• Abdominal: Abs or stomach area
  • Can be divided into quadrants or nine regions.
• Umbilical: Navel or belly button
  • Mnemonic: Attachment point for umbilical cord.
• Pelvic: Between hip bones
  • Mnemonic: Elvis and his pelvis.
• Inguinal: Near groin
  • Mnemonic: Inguinal hernias.
• Pubic: External genitalia
• Perineal: Between genitalia and anus
  • Mnemonic: Pericare involves cleaning front to back.

Posterior Trunk

• Dorsal: Back
  • Mnemonic: Dorsal fin on a dolphin’s back.
• Vertebral: Along the spine
• Lumbar: Lower back
  • Mnemonic: Lumbar support for lower back.
• Sacral: Lower back, sacrum bone
  • Mnemonic: Thought to house the human soul.
• Gluteal: Buttocks
  • Mnemonic: Gluteal muscles.

Appendicular Region

Upper Limbs

• Acromial: Shoulder
  • Mnemonic: Acrobats and the acromial region.
• Brachial: Arm
  • Mnemonic: Biceps brachii, brachialis.
• Antecubital: Front of elbow
  • Mnemonic: "Anti" means in front of, "cubital" refers to elbow.
• Olecranal: Back of elbow
  • Mnemonic: Pandemic elbow bump, aka "olecranal bump."
• Antebrachial: Forearm
  • Mnemonic: Forearm is not the arm.
• Carpal: Wrist
  • Mnemonic: Carpals help drive a car.
• Manual: Hands
  • Mnemonic: Manual labor involves hands.
• Metacarpal: Beyond the carpals
• Palmar: Palm
  • Mnemonic: Palm of the hand.
• Pollex: Thumb

Lower Limbs

• Coxal: Hip
  • Mnemonic: Cowboy and gun at the coxal region.
• Femoral: Thigh
  • Mnemonic: Femur bone and femoral artery.
• Patellar: Front of knee
  • Mnemonic: Patella or kneecap.
• Popliteal: Back of knee
  • Mnemonic: Bending popliteal for squatting.
• Crural: Front of leg (knee to ankle)
  • Mnemonic: Cricket pads cover crural region.
• Sural: Calf
• Pedal: Foot
  • Mnemonic: Pedal a bicycle with pedal region.
• Calcaneal: Heel
  • Mnemonic: Callus on heel, calcaneal.
• Tarsal: Ankle
  • Mnemonic: Tarsals near toes.
• Metatarsal: Beyond the tarsals
• Hallux: Big toe
  • Mnemonic: Hallux for walking down the hall.
• Digital: Toes
• Plantar: Sole of foot
  • Mnemonic: Location of plantar warts.

Conclusion

• Review of major regional terms in anatomy.
• Additional resources: quizzes and anatomy video playlists available.