Directional terms

• The different layers of the thorax and abdomen include the pleura, pericardium, peritoneum, and serosa.
• The terms Internal/Inner, External/Outer, Superficial, Deep, Proximal, Distal, Radial/Ulnar, Tibial/Fibular, Palmar, and Plantar are used to describe the location of organs and appendages.
• The terms Axis, Axial Surface, and Abaxial Surface are used to describe the central line of the body and the surfaces that face it.
• Flexion is the movement of one bone in relation to another in such a manner that the angle formed at their joint decreases; the limb is retracted or folded; the digit is bent; the back is arched dorsally.
• Extension is the movement of one part away from the median plane.
• Overextension, Hyperextension, or Dorsal Flexion is the extension beyond 180 degrees.
• Abduction is the movement of one part away from the median plane.
• Canal is a tunnel through one or more bones.
• Foramen is an opening through a bone where the vessels and nerves pass.
• Notch is a depression at the edge of a bone.
• Epicondyle is a prominence just proximal to a condyle.
• Dorsal cavity, ventral cavity, thoracic cavity, abdominal cavity, and pelvic cavity are body cavities.
• Cross-sectional view of the thorax is a part of the thoracic cavity.
• Sinus is an air cavity within a bone or bones, lined with mucous membrane and communicating with the exterior.
• Abdominal cavity is a body cavity.
• Spine or spinous process is a pointed projection.
• Groove is a long, narrow furrow accommodating a vessel, nerve or tendon.
• Basic movements of the parts of the body include flexion, extension, overextension/hyperextension, dorsal flexion, abduction, adduction, circumduction, rotation, supination, pronation, and flexion.
• Trochanter is a specific term for the bony outgrowth of the femur.
• Tuberosity is a bony protrusion where a muscle attaches, seen as a rough potentially protruding surface.
• Glenoid cavity is a shallow articular depression.
• Fovea is a shallow, nonarticular depression.
• Fossa is a small hollow structure.
• Process is a general term for a prominence.
• The median plane, sagittal plane, dorsal plane, transverse plane, medial, lateral, dorsal, ventral, dorsal, palmar, and plantar are directional terminologies used in anatomy.
• Tubercle is a rounded eminence.
• Line is a very small ridge.
• Head is a rounded articular enlargement at the end of a bone; it may be joined to the shaft by a constricted part, the neck.
• Crest is a sharp ridge.
• Trochlea is a pulley-like articular mass.
• Cotyloid cavity or acetabulum is a deep articular depression (acetabulum of the hip joint).
• Condyle is an articular eminence which is somewhat cylindrical; a non-articular projection in connection with a condyle may be termed as epicondyle.