1

Notes
Anatomical Terminology
Anatomy (Physiology)
Gross Anatomy (Macroscopic)can be visualized with the unaided eye
Microscopic Anatomyrequires the use of a microscope
Surface Anatomyanatomical landmarks palpate structures (bones
bone markingsmusclesligamentstendons)
Regional Anatomy
Histologytissue (epithelialconnectivemusclenervous)
Cytologycells (squamousfibroblastsneurons)
Developmental Anatomy
Pathological Anatomystudy of disease/disorders
Comparative Anatomy
Anatomical Position
A universally accepted standard position
Axial- refers to the head, neck, and trunk the axis of the body
Appendicular- relates to the limbs and their attachments to the axis
Body Planes and Sections
Sagittalsplits body into right and left
Frontal/Coronalsplits the body into anterior and posterior
Transversesplits the body into superior and inferior
Body

Orientation and Direction

Superior-Inferior (cranial/cephalic-caudal)
Anterior-Posterior (dorsal-ventral)
Superficial-Deep (external-internal)
Medial-Lateral
Proximal-Distal
Supine-Prone
Visceral-Parietal
Ipsilateral-Contralateral

Body Cavities
Dorsal
o Cranial
o Spinal (vertebral)
Anterior
o Thoracic (pleural & cardiac)
o Abdomen (peritoneum)
o Pelvic

2
Serous Membranes
Pleura refers to the lungs
Pericardium refers to the heart
Peritoneum refers to the abdominal cavity and organs
Visceral layer of a covering refers to the most external layer
surrounding an organ
Parietal layer of a covering refers to the layer that lines the cavity
Abdominopelvic Regions
Right hypochondriac
Epigastric region
Left hypochondriac region
Right lumbar region
Umbilical region
Left lumbar region
Right inguinal region
Hypogastric region
Left inguinal region
Abdominopelvic Quadrants
Right Upper
Right Lower
Left Upper
Left Lower
Organ Systems
Integumentary
Urinary
Endocrine
Digestive

Nervous
Skeletal
Lymph/Immune

Cardiovascular
Muscular

Respiratory

Reproductive

Regions of the body (head, neck, trunk, upper limb and lower limb)
Cephalic-head
Cranial
Facial
Frontal-forehead
Orbital-eye
Nasal-nose
Buccal-cheek
Oral-mouth
Mental-chin
Occipital- back of head
Cervical-neck
Nuchal- back of neck
Trunk

Thoracic-chest
o Pectoral
o Sternal
o Acromial-shoulder
o Scapular- shoulder blade
o Vertebrae- spine
o Lumbar- low back
Abdominal-belly
Inguinal- groin
o Genital-pubic
o Coxal-hip

Upper Extremity
Axillary-armpit
Brachial-arm
Cubital-elbow
Antebrachial-forearm
Carpal-wrist
Manual-hand
Pollex-thumb
Digital-finger
Lower Extremity
Femoral-thigh
Patellar-knee
Popliteal- back of knee
Crural-leg
Sural-back of leg
Gluteal- buttock
Tarsal-ankle
Pedal-foot
Digital-toe
Plantar- sole
Calcaneal- heel
Combining Forms-Word Roots-Prefixes and Suffixes
Abdomin Acr Aden Angi Anthr Bio Blast Cardi Chondr Dent-

EctoGastroHepatHeterHomeoKinesLabiMyoNeurOsteOrthoPathoPhagRhinSclerSomaThrombVasZyg-algia
-asis
-emia
-gen
-gram
-itis
-logy
-lysis
-oma
-pathy
-penia
-philic
-phobe
-poiesis
-tomy
-uria