Anatomy – ANSWER Study of body structures
Physiology – ANSWER Study of how all body structures function
Anterior or Ventral (Anatomical term of direction) – ANSWER Front or belly side
Posterior or Dorsal (Anatomical term of direction) – ANSWER Back side
Superior (Anatomical term of direction) – ANSWER Closer to the head (used for head,
neck and trunk)
Inferior (Anatomical term of direction) – ANSWER Farther from the top of the head
(used for head, neck and trunk)
Medial (Anatomical term of direction) – ANSWER Toward the midline of the body.
Lateral (Anatomical term of direction) – ANSWER Away from the midline of the body
Bilateral (Anatomical term of direction) – ANSWER Relating to or affecting two sides
Proximal (Anatomical term of direction) – ANSWER Closer to the connection of the
body
Distal (Anatomical term of direction) – ANSWER Farther from the connection of the
body
Superficial (Anatomical term of direction) – ANSWER Closer to the surface (used for
layered structures)
Deep (Anatomical term of direction) – ANSWER Farther from the surface (used for
layered structures)
Right (Anatomical term of direction) – ANSWER On the body’s right side (not the
viewer’s right side)
Left (Anatomical term of direction) – ANSWER On the body’s left side (not the the
viewer’s left side)
Axial (Anatomical region) – ANSWER Head, neck and trunk
Abdominal (Anatomical region) – ANSWER Belly
Axillary (Anatomical region) – ANSWER Armpit
Cephalic or Cranial (Anatomical region) – ANSWER Head
Cervical (Anatomical region) – ANSWER Neck
Facial (Anatomical region) – ANSWER Face
Inguinal (Anatomical region) – ANSWER Groin
Pelvic (Anatomical region) – ANSWER Lower end of the trunk
Thoracic (Anatomical region) – ANSWER Chest
Umbilical (Anatomical region) – ANSWER Naval
Appendicular (Anatomical region) – ANSWER Arms and legs
Brachial (Anatomical region) – ANSWER Arm
Carpal (Anatomical region) – ANSWER Wrist
Cubital (Anatomical region) – ANSWER Elbow
Femoral (Anatomical region) – ANSWER Thigh
Palmar (Anatomical region) – ANSWER Palms of the hands
Patellar (Anatomical region) – ANSWER Knee
Plantar (Anatomical region) – ANSWER Soles of the feet
Tarsal (Anatomical region) – ANSWER Ankle
Sagittal (Anatomical plane) – ANSWER Separates right from left. If the plane is exactly
down the midline of the body, it is midsaggital.
Transverse or Horizontal (Anatomical plane) – ANSWER Separates top from bottom;
commonly called a cross section
Frontal or Coronal (Anatomical plane) – ANSWER Separates anterior from posterior
(front from back)
Supine (Anatomical plane) – ANSWER Anterior surface facing up
Prone – ANSWER Anterior surface facing down