Unit 1: Regional Terms

makes up the main axis of our body, includes the head, neck, and trunk

consists of the appendages, or limbs, attached to the body’s axis

anterior; Relating to the region of the body between the chest and pelvis, containing the stomach and other digestive organs.

anterior; Referring to the area in front of the elbow joint.

lateral; Referring to the armpit area.

proximal; it’s closer to the point of attachment (shoulder) than the more distal parts of the arm. Referring to the upper arm region, specifically the area between the shoulder and the elbow.

anterior or lateral, as it’s on the front and to the side of the mouth. Referring to the cheek area, specifically the lining of the cheeks.

posterior, as it’s located on the back side of the foot, closer to the rear. Relating to the heel bone (calcaneus) of the foot.

distal, as it’s closer to the body’s point of attachment (forearm) than the hand. Referring to the wrist, particularly the group of small bones in the wrist known as carpal bones.

anterior; Relating to the head or head end of the body.

superior; as it’s located above the thoracic region of the spine. Referring to the neck region of the body; specifically the part of the spine that is in the neck area.

lateral; Relating to the hip or hip region.

distal, as the fingers and toes are located at the farthest ends of the limbs from the point of attachment. Referring to the fingers or toes.

proximal, as it’s closer to the body’s point of attachment (hip) than the lower leg. Relating to the thigh or the femur bone, which is the bone of the upper leg.

posterior; Referring to the buttocks or the muscles of the buttocks.

inferior or lateral; Relating to the groin area, specifically the crease where the thigh meets the abdomen.

superior; Referring to the lower back, particularly the region of the spine between the thoracic (chest) and sacral (pelvic) regions.

anterior; Relating to the nose or the nasal cavity. (the interior of the nose)

posterior; Referring to the back of the head or the occipital bone, which forms the back and base of the skull.

posterior; Relating to the back of the elbow or the bony point of the elbow.

anterior; Referring to the mouth or the mouth-related structures.

anterior; Relating to the eye socket or orbit, which holds the eye.

anterior; Referring to the kneecap (patella), a small, flat bone in front of the knee joint.

inferior; Relating to the pelvis, the bony structure formed by the hip bones and the sacrum.

posterior; Referring to the back of the knee or the area behind the knee joint.

inferior; Relating to the sacrum, which is the triangular bone at the base of the spine.

posterior; Referring to the shoulder blade or the area surrounding it.

anterior; Relating to the sternum, the flat bone in the center of the chest.

posterior; Referring to the bones of the ankle or the posterior part of the foot.

anterior; Relating to the thorax or chest region, which contains the heart and lungs.

anterior; Referring to the navel or the area around the belly button.

posterior; Relating to the vertebrae, the individual bones that make up the spinal column.