Download Anatomy Terminology

Anatomy
Terminology
**You will need these notes
throughout the WHOLE year!**
Why do we need to learn these
words?
• Veterinarians use these terms to discuss
the animal injuries, where to inject shots,
or just general explanations of animals.
• If you decide to go into the field of
veterinarian medicine, you will already
have an advantage in your degree or job!
Directional Terms
• Adjacent: Next to, adjoining, or close to
• Cranial: Position more towards the
CRANIUM or head end of the body. (can
also be craniad or cranially)
• Caudal: position more towards the tail
end of the body. (can also be cudad or
caudally)
• Cephalic: Pertaining to the head (not used as
•
•
•
•
frequently as cranial)
Rostral: pertaning to the nose end or towards
the nose
Dorsal: pertaining to the back area of the
quadruped (an animal with 4 legs) or a position
more toward the back.
Ventral: the belly or the underside of a
quadruped or toward the belly (down)
Lateral: a position farther away from the
median plane of the body or of a structure (ex.
The lateral surface of the leg is the outside
surface)
• Medial: a position closer to the median
plane of the body or of a structure
• Oblique: at an angle or pertaining to an
angle
• Superficial: near the surface; not deep
• Deep: situated far beneath the surface
• Peripheral: situated near the outer areas
or surface of a body or structure
• Proximal: nearest to the center of the
body relative to another body part, or a
location on a body part relative to another
more distant location
• Distal: farthest from the center of the
body relative to another body part, or a
location on a body part relative to another
closer location
• Superior: above or directed above
• Inferior: below or directed below
Postitional Terms
• Caudal: back side of the leg above the carpus
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•
•
and tarsus
Cranial: front side of the leg above the carpus
and tarsus
Dorsal: the front side of the leg from the carpus
and tarsus distally (what is that again??)
Palmar or volar: the caudal surface of the
front leg from the carpus to the phalanges
(includes the bottom surface of the front foot)
• Plantar: caudal surface of the hind leg
from the hock to the phalanges (includes
the bottom surface of the hind foot)
• Pronation: the act of turning the body or
arm so the palm is down
• Prone: to lie face down
• Recumbent: lying down (modifying this
term also tells which way the animal is
lying down: ex. Dorsal recumbency= the
animal is lying on its back)
• Supination: the act of turning the body
or arm so the palm is up
• Supine: to lie face up
Anatomical Terms
• Abdominal: abdomen
• Antebrachium: the distal area of the
front legs of an animal, below the elbow
joint
• Appendicular: the limbs and their
attachments to the axis of the body
• Axial: the head, neck and trunk related to
the axis of the body
• Axillary: pertaining to the armpit area
• Brachial: the proximal area of the front
legs of an animal, above the elbow joint
• Cervical: the neck area
• Coccygeal: the tail or vertebrae of the
tail
• Cranium: the part of the skill that
encases the brain
• Crural: the rear legs of an animal
• Digital: the area of the foot where the
animal’s toes, or toe bones, are located
• Frontal: pertaining to the forehead
• Inguinal: pertaining to the groin
• Lumbar: pertaining to the lumbar
vertebrae
• Mammary: pertaining to the mammary
glands
• Nasal: nose
• Oral: mouth
• Orbital: pertaining to the bony eye
socket
• Patellar: the patella or kneecap
• Pelvic: pertaining to the pelvis or hip
bones
• Perineal: pertaining to the region
between or surrounding the anus and the
external genitalia
• Peritoneal: pertaining to the cavity inside
the abdomen and the membrane that line
it
• Pleural: the cavity inside the chest and
the membranes that line it
• Popliteal: the caudal area or back of the
true knee (the stifle joint) where the
popliteal lymph node is located
• Pubic: pertaining to the bone located
between the animal’s rear legs, known as
the pubic bone
• Quadrants: arbitrary divisions of the
abdominal cavity into 4 equal sections
using the mid-abdominal transverse and
medial planes as the dividing lines
• Sacral: pertaining to the sacrum, the
fused vertebrae by which the pelvis is
attached to the backbone
• Scapular: the scapula or shoulder blade
area
• Sternal: the region of the sternum or
breastbone
• Stifle: the true knee, or femorotibial joint
• Thoracic: the thorax or chest
• Umbilical: pertaining to the umbilicus or
navel (bellybutton)
• Vertebral: the vertebrae or spinal column