Anatomy Regional Terms Lecture Notes

Major Body Regions

• Axial Region

  • Covers the head, neck, and trunk.
  • Mnemonic: "Ax" like ax used to cut a tree trunk (head, neck region).

• Appendicular Region

  • Includes upper and lower limbs.
  • Mnemonic: "Appendage" refers to something that attaches to another structure.

Axial Region Areas

Head

• Cephalic

  • Entire head region.
  • Mnemonic: "C" for see and "lick" part of the face.

• Cranial

  • Refers to the skull.
  • Mnemonic: "Cranial" rhymes with "brainial."

• Frontal

  • Forehead area.
  • Mnemonic: "Front" and "forehead."

• Ocular

  • Eye region.
  • Mnemonic: Use "binoculars" for ocular.

• Otic

  • Ear region.
  • Mnemonic: "Otoscope" for examining ears.

• Nasal

  • Nose region.
  • Mnemonic: "Nasal spray."

• Buccal

  • Cheek area.
  • Mnemonic: Medication administered "buccally" (inside the cheek).

• Oral

  • Mouth region.
  • Mnemonic: Oral medication is taken by mouth.

• Mental

  • Chin area.
  • Mnemonic: "Men have a bigger chin" (mental refers to chin).

• Occipital

  • Back or base of the skull.
  • Mnemonic: Occipital lobe and bone.

Neck

• Cervical
  • Neck region.
  • Mnemonic: Cervical vertebrae spine.

Trunk

• Thoracic

  • Region between neck and abdomen.
  • Mnemonic: Insects have thorax, we have thoracic part of the spine.

• Axillary

  • Armpit region.
  • Mnemonic: "Ax" deodorant for axillary.

• Mammary

  • Breast region.
  • Mnemonic: Mammary glands, mammals, breastfeeding.

• Sternal

  • Between mammary region.
  • Mnemonic: Sternum bone resembles a necktie.

• Abdominal

  • Abs location; can be divided into quadrants or regions.

• Umbilical

  • Navel/belly button area.
  • Mnemonic: Attachment point for umbilical cord.

• Pelvic

  • Region between hip bones.
  • Mnemonic: Elvis's pelvis movement.

• Inguinal

  • Region where inguinal hernias occur.

• Pubic

  • External genitalia area.

• Perineal

  • Area between genitalia and anus.
  • Mnemonic: Proper care direction from front to back.

• Dorsal

  • Back area.
  • Mnemonic: Dolphins have dorsal fins.

• Vertebral

  • Along the spine.

• Lumbar

  • Lower back, known as loins.
  • Mnemonic: Lumbar support for chairs.

• Sacral

  • Lower back where sacrum bone is located.

• Gluteal

  • Buttocks area. Glutes muscles.

Appendicular Region Areas

Upper Limbs

• Acromial

  • Bony part of the shoulder.
  • Mnemonic: Acrobats stand on shoulders.

• Brachial

  • Arm region.
  • Mnemonic: Biceps and triceps brachii.

• Antecubital

  • Front of the elbow.
  • Nurses refer to it as "AC."

• Olecranon

  • Back of the elbow.
  • Mnemonic: Elbow bumps (olecranial bump).

• Antebrachial

  • Forearm region.
  • Mnemonic: Forearm is not the arm.

• Carpal

  • Wrist area.
  • Mnemonic: Carpals help drive a car.

• Manual

  • Hand region.
  • Mnemonic: Manual labor involves hands.

• Metacarpal

  • Beyond carpals.
  • Mnemonic: "Meta" means beyond.

• Palmar

  • Palm of the hand.

• Pollux

  • Thumb region.
  • Mnemonic: "Pollux up" gesture.

• Digital

  • Fingers.
  • Mnemonic: Use fingers for digital actions.

Lower Limbs

• Coxal

  • Hip region.
  • Mnemonic: Cowboy "cocks" his gun at coxal.

• Femoral

  • Thigh region.
  • Mnemonic: Femur bone, femoral artery.

• Patellar

  • Front of the knee (kneecap).

• Popliteal

  • Back of the knee.
  • Mnemonic: Bend popliteal to squat.

• Crural

  • Front of the leg.
  • Mnemonic: Cricket pads for the crural region.

• Sural

  • Calf region.

• Pedal

  • Foot region.
  • Mnemonic: Pedal a bicycle.

• Calcaneal

  • Heel region.
  • Mnemonic: Calluses on the heel.

• Tarsal

  • Ankle region.
  • Mnemonic: Tarsals near toes.

• Metatarsal

  • Beyond tarsals.
  • Mnemonic: "Meta" means beyond.

• Hallux

  • Big toe region.
  • Mnemonic: Walk down the hall with hallux.

• Plantar

  • Sole of the foot.
  • Mnemonic: Plantar warts location.