Human Anatomy and Physiology Chapter 1 Part 1
A position toward or at the midline of the body, or on the inner side. It is used to indicate that a body part is closer to the center of the body compared to another part.
Superior (cranial)
toward the head end or upper part of a structure or the body; above

Key Terms
Superior (cranial)
toward the head end or upper part of a structure or the body; above
Inferior (caudal)
away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; below
Ventral (anterior)
toward or at the front of the body; in front of
Dorsal (posterior)
Toward or at the back of the body; behind
Medial
toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of
Lateral
away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of
Related Flashcard Decks
Study Tips
- Press F to enter focus mode for distraction-free studying
- Review cards regularly to improve retention
- Try to recall the answer before flipping the card
- Share this deck with friends to study together
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Superior (cranial) | toward the head end or upper part of a structure or the body; above |
Inferior (caudal) | away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; below |
Ventral (anterior) | toward or at the front of the body; in front of |
Dorsal (posterior) | Toward or at the back of the body; behind |
Medial | toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of |
Lateral | away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of |
Intermediate | between a more medial and a more lateral structure |
Proximal | closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk |
Distal | farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk |
Superficial | toward or at the body surface |
Deep (internal) | away from the body surface; more internal |
Anatomical Position | erect, feet forward, arms at side with palms facing forward, head facing forward, internationally know |
Directional Terms | allow us to explain where one body structure is in relation to another |
Axial | fundamental division of our body. Makes up the main axis of our body, includes the head, neck, and trunk. |
Appendicular | fundamental division of our body. relating to the limbs and their attachments to the axis. |
Regional Terms | used to designate specific areas within major body divisions |
Abdominal | pertaining to the anterior body trunk region inferior to the ribs |
Acromial | pertaining to the point of the shoulder |
Antebrachial | pertaining to the forearm |
Antecubital | pertaining to the anterior surface of the elbow |
Axillary | pertaining to the armpit |
Brachial | pertaining to the arm |
Buccal | pertaining to the cheek |
Carpal | Pertaining to the wrist |
Cephalic | pertaining to the head |
Cervical | pertaining to the neck region |
Coxal | pertaining to the hip |
Crural | pertaining to the leg |
Digital | pertaining to the fingers or toes |
Femoral | pertaining to the thigh |
Fibular (peroneal) | pertaining to the side of the leg |
Frontal | pertaining to the forehead |
Hallux | pertaining to the great toe |
Inguinal | pertaining to the groin |
Mammary | pertaining to the breast |
Manus | pertaining to the hand |
Mental | pertaining to the chin |
Nasal | pertaining to the nose |
Oral | pertaining to the mouth |
Orbital | pertaining to the eye socket (orbit) |
Palmar | pertaining to the palm of the hand |
Patellar | pertaining to the anterior knee (kneecap) region |
Pedal | pertaining to the foot |
Pelvic | pertaining to the pelvis region |
Pollex | pertaining to the thumb |
Pubic | pertaining to the genital region |
Sternal | pertaining to the region of the breastbone |
Tarsal | pertaining to the ankle |
Thoracic | pertaining to the chest |
Umbilical | pertaining to the navel |
Acromial | pertaining to the point of the shoulder |
Calcaneal | pertaining to the heel of the foot |
Dorsum | pertaining to the back |
Gluteal | pertaining to the buttocks or rump |
Lumbar | pertaining to the area of the back between the ribs and hips; the loin |
Occipital | Back of the head |
Otic | pertaining to the ear |
Perineal | pertaining to the region between the anus and external genitalia |
Plantar | pertaining to the sole of the foot |
Popliteal | pertaining to the back of the knee |
Sacral | pertaining to the region between the hips (overlying the sacrum) |
Scapular | pertaining to the scapula or shoulder blade area |
Sural | pertaining to the calf or posterior surface of the leg |
Vertebral | pertaining to the area of the spinal column |
Anterior/Ventral Body | |
Posterior/Dorsal Body | |
Sagittal | a vertical plane that divides the body into right and left parts |
Median Plane (midsagittal plane) | sagittal plane that lies exactly in the midline |
Parasagittal Planes | all other sagittal planes offset from the midline |
Frontal Planes (Coronal Plane) | like sagittal plane lie vertically, divide body into anterior and posterior parts |
Transverse/Horizontal Plane | runs horizontally from right to left, dividing the body into superior and inferior parts. (Transverse is perpendicular to long axis of an organ, horizontal is from front to back) |
Oblique Sections | cuts made diagonally between the horizontal and the vertical planes |
Dorsal Body Cavity | protects the fragile nervous system organs, has 2 subdivisions |
Cranial Cavity | in the skull, encases the brain |
Vertebral Cavity (Spinal Cavity) | runs within the bony vertebral column, encloses the delicate spinal cord |
Ventral Body Cavity | the more anterior and larger of the closed body cavities, has 2 major subdivisions, houses internal organs called Viscera |
Thoracic Cavity | surrounded by the ribs and muscles of the chest |
Pleural Cavities | lateral subdivision of Thoracic Cavity, enveloping a lung, and the Medial Mediastinum |
Medial Mediastinum | contains the pericardial cavity |
Pericardial Cavity | encloses the heart and also surrounds the the remaining thoracic organs (esophagus, trachea, and others) |
Abdominopelvic Cavity | seperated from thoracic cavity by the diaphram, a dome shaped muscle important in breathing. Has abdominal and pelvic cavities |
Abdominal Cavity | Contains stomach, intestines, spleen, and liver, and other organs |
Pelvic Cavity | Contains urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum |
Serosa (Serous Membrane) | the walls of the ventral body cavity and the outer surfaces of the organs it contains are covered by this thin double layered membrane |
Parietal Serosa | lines internal body walls |
Visceral Serosa | covers the internal organs |
Abdominopelvic Quadrants | Divisions used primarily by medical personnel |
Abdominopelvic Regions | Nine divisions used primarily by anatomists |
Umbilical region | The centermost region, which includes the umbilicus |
Epigastric Region | LOcater superior to the umbilical region |
Right and Left Iliac or Inguinal Regions | located lateral to hypogastric regions, superior part of the hip bone |
Right and Left Lumbar Regions | lie lateral to the umbilical region |
Right and Left Hypochondriac Regions | Flank the epigastric region laterally |
Oral and Digestive Cavities | aka mouth, teeth and tongue, this cavity is part of and continuous with the cavity of the digestive organs which opens to the exterior at the anus. |
Nasal Cavity | located within and posterior to the nose, part of the respiratory system passageways |
Orbital Cavities | in the skull house the eyes and present them in an anterior position |
Middle Ear Cavities | carved into the skull lie just medial to the cardrums. contain tiny bones that transmit sound vibrations to the hearing receptors in the inner ears. |
Synovial Cavities | Are joint cavities, enclosed within the fibrous capsules that surround freely movable joints of the body i.e. elbow and knee joints. Secreate a lubricating fl. tht reduces friction as the bones move acrossone another. |
What is anatomy? | the study of structure of body parts and their relationship to one another |
What is physiology? | the study of function of the body - how the body parts work and carry out their life sustaining activities |