quick reference
Common Anatomy Words in Simple Language
The basic vocabulary every anatomy chapter assumes you already know — directional terms, planes, movements, cavities, and the descriptive words used for bones, soft tissue, and organs.
🧭 directional terms
🦴 bone landmarks
⚡ neurovascular
🧭 Directional & Positional Terms
anterior (ventral)
toward the front
posterior (dorsal)
toward the back
superior (cranial)
toward the head/upper end
inferior (caudal)
toward the feet/lower end
medial
closer to the midline
lateral
farther from the midline
proximal
closer to the trunk/origin
distal
farther from the trunk/origin
superficial
closer to the skin surface
deep
farther from the skin surface
ipsilateral
same side of the body
contralateral
opposite side of the body
supine
lying face up
prone
lying face down
palmar (volar)
relating to the palm of the hand
plantar
relating to the sole of the foot
dorsum
back/upper surface of hand or foot
external
outer/outside
internal
inner/inside
axial
relating to the head, neck & trunk
appendicular
relating to the limbs
📐 Planes & Movements
sagittal plane
vertical cut dividing body into left & right
midsagittal plane
sagittal cut exactly through the midline
coronal (frontal) plane
vertical cut dividing body into front & back
transverse (axial) plane
horizontal cut dividing body into upper & lower
flexion
bending, decreasing joint angle
extension
straightening, increasing joint angle
abduction
moving away from midline
adduction
moving toward midline
medial rotation
turning inward/toward midline
lateral rotation
turning outward/away from midline
pronation
turning palm/forearm downward or posteriorly
supination
turning palm/forearm upward or anteriorly
circumduction
circular movement combining flexion, extension, abduction, adduction
opposition
thumb moving to touch fingertips
inversion
sole of foot turned inward
eversion
sole of foot turned outward
dorsiflexion
foot lifted upward at ankle
plantarflexion
foot pointed downward at ankle
protraction
moving a part forward
retraction
moving a part backward
elevation
raising a part upward
depression
lowering a part downward
🫧 Body Cavities & Membranes
thoracic cavity
chest cavity, holds heart & lungs
abdominal cavity
holds stomach, liver, bowel, etc.
pelvic cavity
holds bladder, rectum, reproductive organs
cranial cavity
holds the brain
mediastinum
central compartment of thorax between the lungs
peritoneum
serous membrane lining abdominal cavity & organs
retroperitoneal
located behind the peritoneum
mesentery
double layer of peritoneum suspending bowel
omentum
fatty peritoneal fold draping the abdominal organs
pleura
serous membrane lining lungs & thoracic wall
pericardium
membrane sac surrounding the heart
meninges
protective membranes around brain & spinal cord
parietal layer
outer layer, lining the cavity wall
visceral layer
inner layer, covering the organ itself
🦴 Bone & Joint Landmark Terms
foramen
hole/opening through bone
canal
tunnel-like passage through bone
meatus
short canal-like opening
fossa
shallow depression/hollow
sulcus
narrow groove
groove
long narrow depression
fissure
narrow slit-like opening
notch
indentation at a bone's edge
sinus
air-filled or blood-filled cavity
tubercle
small rounded bump on bone
tuberosity
larger rounded elevation on bone
condyle
rounded bone end at a joint
epicondyle
bump above/beside a condyle
trochanter
large bony process (femur) for muscle attachment
crest
raised ridge along bone
spine (bone)
sharp pointed bony projection
process
general bony projection
ramus
branch-like extension of bone
head (bone)
rounded end of a long bone
neck (bone)
narrow region below the head
shaft
long straight middle part of a bone
diaphysis
shaft of a long bone
epiphysis
end part of a long bone
articular surface
smooth area where bones meet at a joint
facet
small flat articular surface
🧵 Soft Tissue & Connective Structures
fascia
sheet of connective tissue wrapping muscles/organs
aponeurosis
flat sheet-like tendon
ligament
connects bone to bone
tendon
connects muscle to bone
retinaculum
fibrous band holding tendons in place
bursa
fluid-filled sac reducing friction near joints
sheath
tube-like covering around a structure
capsule
fibrous covering enclosing a joint/organ
septum
dividing wall of tissue
membrane
thin lining or covering layer
⚡ Neurovascular Terms
plexus
network of interlacing nerves or vessels
ganglion
cluster of nerve cell bodies outside the CNS
dermatome
skin area supplied by one spinal nerve
myotome
muscle group supplied by one spinal nerve
anastomosis
connection between two vessels/tubes
collateral circulation
alternate blood supply route
innervation
nerve supply to a structure
afferent
carrying signals toward the CNS (sensory)
efferent
carrying signals away from the CNS (motor)
🫁 General Organ & Tissue Terms
viscera
internal organs
parenchyma
functional tissue of an organ
stroma
supportive connective tissue framework of an organ
lumen
inside space of a tube or hollow organ
cortex
outer layer/region of an organ
medulla
inner layer/region of an organ
hilum (hilus)
site where vessels/nerves enter or leave an organ
apex
pointed tip of an organ/structure
base
broad bottom/attached surface of an organ
lobule
small subdivision of an organ lobe
adventitia
outermost connective tissue layer of a tube/organ
mucosa
innermost lining layer of a hollow organ
submucosa
connective tissue layer under the mucosa
muscularis
muscular layer of a hollow organ wall
serosa
outer serous membrane layer of an organ