Anatomical Terminologies

The language of anatomy will probably be unfamiliar to you at
first. But once you have understood the basic word roots,
combining word forms, prefixes and suffix you will find that
anatomical terminologies are not as difficult as you first
imagined.

1.3.1. Anatomical Position.

Anatomical positions are universally accepted as the starting
points for positional references to the body. In anatomical
position the subject is standing erect and facing the observer,
the feet are together, and the arms are hanging at the sides
with the palms facing forward. Human Anatomy and Physiology
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Figure 1.2 Relative directional terms of the body. (Source: Carola, R.,
Harley,J.P., Noback R.C., (1992), Human anatomy and physiology, Mc Graw
hill inc, New York, 2nd ed, pp 15)

1.3.2 Relative Directional terms

Standardized terms of reference are used when anatomists
describe the location of the body part. Relative means the
location of one part of the body is always described in relation
to another part of the body.
 Human Anatomy and Physiology
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Table: 1.1 Directional terms (source: Carola, R., Harley,J.P.,
Noback R.C., (1992), Human anatomy and physiology, Mc
Graw hill inc, New York, 2nd ed, pp 15)

Term Definition and example
Superior (cranial) Toward the head. The leg is supper to the foot.
Inferior (caudal) Toward the feet. The foot is inferior to the leg.
Anterior (ventral) Toward the front part of the body. The nose is
anterior to the ears.
Posterior (dorsal) Towards the back of the body. The ears are posterior
to the nose.
Medial Towards the midline of the body. The nose is medial
to the eyes.
Lateral Away from the midline of the body. The eyes are
lateral to the nose.
Proximal Toward (nearer) the trunk of the body or the attached
end of a limb. The shoulder is proximal to the wrist.
Distal


Away (farther) from the trunk of the body or the
attached end of a limb. The wrist is distal to the
forearm.
Superficial Nearer the surface of the body. The ribs are
superficial to the heart.
Deep

Farther from the surface of the body. The heart is
deeper to the ribs.
Peripheral Away from the central axis of the body. Peripheral
nerves radiate away from the brain and spinal cord.