Anatomical Terminology

Introduction

The purpose of anatomical terminology is to enhance accuracy and comprehension and to minimize medical errors. Often, sections of the body are referred to in terms of anatomical planes, which are imaginary lines that are drawn through a body in the anatomical position. (Fig. 2)

• Sagittal plane: vertical line dividing human body into left and right sections.

• Coronal plane: vertical line dividing human body into anterior and posterior sections.

• Transverse plane: horizontal line dividing human body into superior and inferior sections.

Anatomical Position

It is the core concept to describe all body locations. It is important to help students and healthcare professionals to understand the locations and relations of body organs and structures. Everyone involved in studying anatomy and all related subjects should be oriented well to be succeed in the field. The anatomical position of human body will be performed by having a person standing upright, facing forward, with arms straight and hands held by the hips, palms facing forward. The feet should be parallel and toes pointing forward. (Fig. 3)

Anatomicl Locations

The terms of anatomical locations are essential to be able to understand anatomy. The terms help to avoid any confusion when describing the locations of structures and organs. The followings are the common terms of locations (Fig. 4) and (Table 5): 

• Median means the midline of the body 

• Medial means towards the midline.

• Lateral means away from the midline.

• Anterior or ventral refers to the front.

• Posterior or dorsal refers to the back.

• Superior means higher or up.

• Inferior means lower or down. 

• Proximal means closer to the origin.

• Distal means away from the origin.

• External means towards the surface.

• Internal means away from the surface.

• Superficial means near the surface.

• Deep means farther from the surface. 

• Palmar means anterior hand or palm of hand.

• Dorsal of the hand means posterior surface of hand (dorsum).

• Plantar means inferior surface of foot (sole).

• Dorsal of foot means superior surface of foot (dorsum).

There are some terms that are specifically used in the description of embryology (Fig. 4) and (Table 5).

• Cephalic refers to the head of the embryo.

• Ventral refers to the anterior of the embryo.

• Dorsal refers to the posterior of the embryo.

• Caudal refers to the tail end. 

• Rostral refers to the anterior direction of the head.

• Cranial is often replacing cephalic when describing the location of a structure relative to another.

Body Cavities

The human body consists of five cavities or hollow spaces fall into two main categories: dorsal and ventral cavities. Each contains specific organs. 

The dorsal cavities located at the back of the body, and sometimes called the posterior (dorsal) cavities. There are two posterior cavities, the cranial cavity, which contains the brain and all related structures, and the spinal cavity, containing the spinal cord and spinal nerves (Fig. 5). 

The anterior (ventral) cavities are at the front of the body. There are three ventral cavities, the thoracic cavity, the abdominal cavity, and the pelvic cavity. The thoracic cavity contains the heart, lungs, trachea, bronchi, esophagus, aorta and thymus gland. The abdominal cavity contains the peritoneum, stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, and gallbladder. 

The pelvic cavity contains small parts of the intestines, rectum, urinary bladder, urethra, and ureters. In female, the uterus and vagina are included in the pelvic cavity. Very common that abdominal and pelvic cavities are considered together, and they are called the abdominopelvic cavity (Fig. 5).

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