ANATOMY TERMINOLOGY
I. Anatomy - anatome: ana = up; tome = cutting
A. Study of anatomy can be subdivided according to the size of the parts studied.
1. Microscopic anatomy, or histology - uses the microscope to magnify tissues and cells
of the body
2. Macroscopic anatomy, or gross anatomy - uses the unaided eye to study tissues and
organs of the body
B. Histology is studied systemically, i.e. by organ system (i.e. digestive system, nervous
system)
C. Gross anatomy is generally studied regionally, because that is the way dissections are
most effectively conducted (it can also be viewed and discussed systemically to
understand organ function)
1. Upper extremity region
2. Back region
3. Head and neck region
4. Thorax region
5. Abdomen region
6. Pelvis and perineum region
7. Lower extremity region
II. Anatomical Terminology
A. Basis for terminology
1. Generally, terms will be informative or descriptive
2. Although only one term is official (Terminologia Anatomica), often there is more
than one term for a structure
3. Avoid the use of eponyms - names of persons i.e.
• Poupart's ligament = inguinal ligament
• Cooper's ligaments = suspensory ligaments of breast
• Hunter's canal = adductor canal
B. Terms of position and direction
1. Anatomical position - body erect; head, eyes, toes directed forward; upper limbs at
the side of the body, with palms directed forward
2. Planes - imaginary sections through the body in various directions
a] median - vertically directed plane from front to back, through the sternum
and vertebral spines; it splits the body into right and left halves
b] frontal, or coronal - vertical planes which intersect the median plane at right
angles; they divide the body into front and back parts
Updated July/2023
, c] horizontal, or transverse - planes passing through the body at right angles to
both the median and coronal planes; they divide the body into upper and
lower portions
d] sagittal - vertical planes passing through the body parallel to the median
plane, but not passing through the midline; they divide the body into right
and left portions
3. Direction
a] medial - nearer or towards the median plane
b] lateral - further from the median plane
c] anterior or ventral - nearer to the front of the body
d] posterior or dorsal - nearer to the back of the body
e] superior or cephalic - nearer to the top of the head
f] inferior or caudal - nearer to the bottom of the feet
g] superficial - towards the surface of an organ or the body
h] deep - towards the center of an organ or the body
i] proximal - nearer the point of origin or attachment
j] distal - further from the point of origin or attachment
III. Skeleton
A. Bone - A specialized connective tissue made rigid by the addition of inorganic salts
1. Functions
a] protection - skull and vertebral column protect the brain and spinal cord; ribs
protect thoracic and upper abdominal organs
b] support - provides support and erect posture
c] movement - provides attachment for muscles; allows erect posture
d] storage site for calcium (Ca++)
e] houses blood forming cells
2. Types of bones
a] long bones - bones whose lengths are greater than their breadths; found in
the extremities
1] diaphysis - shaft
2] metaphysis - part of diaphysis nearest 2°ossification center
3] epiphysis - secondary ossification center at the ends of bone
b] short bones - roughly cuboidal in shape with < four surfaces for articulation;
the carpal bones of the hand and tarsal bones of the foot
c] flat bones - bone is mostly flat; calvaria of the skull, sternum, scapula
d] irregular bones - inominate bones, facial bones, vertebrae
e] sesamoid - bones which develop within a tendon; patella, pisiform, fabella
3. Named markings
a] lines, ridges, or crests
b] rounded elevations
1] tuberosity; trochanter - large, rounded
2] tubercle - small
3] protuberance - swelling
4] malleolus - mallet-like
c] spines or processes - sharp elevations
Updated July/2023
I. Anatomy - anatome: ana = up; tome = cutting
A. Study of anatomy can be subdivided according to the size of the parts studied.
1. Microscopic anatomy, or histology - uses the microscope to magnify tissues and cells
of the body
2. Macroscopic anatomy, or gross anatomy - uses the unaided eye to study tissues and
organs of the body
B. Histology is studied systemically, i.e. by organ system (i.e. digestive system, nervous
system)
C. Gross anatomy is generally studied regionally, because that is the way dissections are
most effectively conducted (it can also be viewed and discussed systemically to
understand organ function)
1. Upper extremity region
2. Back region
3. Head and neck region
4. Thorax region
5. Abdomen region
6. Pelvis and perineum region
7. Lower extremity region
II. Anatomical Terminology
A. Basis for terminology
1. Generally, terms will be informative or descriptive
2. Although only one term is official (Terminologia Anatomica), often there is more
than one term for a structure
3. Avoid the use of eponyms - names of persons i.e.
• Poupart's ligament = inguinal ligament
• Cooper's ligaments = suspensory ligaments of breast
• Hunter's canal = adductor canal
B. Terms of position and direction
1. Anatomical position - body erect; head, eyes, toes directed forward; upper limbs at
the side of the body, with palms directed forward
2. Planes - imaginary sections through the body in various directions
a] median - vertically directed plane from front to back, through the sternum
and vertebral spines; it splits the body into right and left halves
b] frontal, or coronal - vertical planes which intersect the median plane at right
angles; they divide the body into front and back parts
Updated July/2023
, c] horizontal, or transverse - planes passing through the body at right angles to
both the median and coronal planes; they divide the body into upper and
lower portions
d] sagittal - vertical planes passing through the body parallel to the median
plane, but not passing through the midline; they divide the body into right
and left portions
3. Direction
a] medial - nearer or towards the median plane
b] lateral - further from the median plane
c] anterior or ventral - nearer to the front of the body
d] posterior or dorsal - nearer to the back of the body
e] superior or cephalic - nearer to the top of the head
f] inferior or caudal - nearer to the bottom of the feet
g] superficial - towards the surface of an organ or the body
h] deep - towards the center of an organ or the body
i] proximal - nearer the point of origin or attachment
j] distal - further from the point of origin or attachment
III. Skeleton
A. Bone - A specialized connective tissue made rigid by the addition of inorganic salts
1. Functions
a] protection - skull and vertebral column protect the brain and spinal cord; ribs
protect thoracic and upper abdominal organs
b] support - provides support and erect posture
c] movement - provides attachment for muscles; allows erect posture
d] storage site for calcium (Ca++)
e] houses blood forming cells
2. Types of bones
a] long bones - bones whose lengths are greater than their breadths; found in
the extremities
1] diaphysis - shaft
2] metaphysis - part of diaphysis nearest 2°ossification center
3] epiphysis - secondary ossification center at the ends of bone
b] short bones - roughly cuboidal in shape with < four surfaces for articulation;
the carpal bones of the hand and tarsal bones of the foot
c] flat bones - bone is mostly flat; calvaria of the skull, sternum, scapula
d] irregular bones - inominate bones, facial bones, vertebrae
e] sesamoid - bones which develop within a tendon; patella, pisiform, fabella
3. Named markings
a] lines, ridges, or crests
b] rounded elevations
1] tuberosity; trochanter - large, rounded
2] tubercle - small
3] protuberance - swelling
4] malleolus - mallet-like
c] spines or processes - sharp elevations
Updated July/2023
