1. Lecture 2
Rozh S. Muhammad
BVM&S, MVSc.(Theriogenology)
Lecturer | Vet. Medicine University of Salahaddin
Vet. Ultrasonographer | Furry Friends for US services
Introduction to
Anatomy
Oct. 2023
6. Anatomical descriptive terms
1. Anatomical discriptive terms in the trunk.
2. Anatomical descriptive terms in the head.
3. Anatomical descriptive terms in the limbs.
13. TYPES OF SURFACES
• VENTRAL: the surface directed towards the ground. Towards or relatively near to the
underside of the head or body.
• DORSAL: the opposite surface to the preceding (i.e. towards or relatively near to the
top of the head, back of the neck, trunk or tail). On the limbs, it applies to the upper or
front surfaces of the carpus (knee),, tarsus (hock), (homologous to the hand and foot),
and digits.
• MEDIAL OR INTERNAL: a surface or structure which is nearer than another to the
median plane (i.e. towards or relatively near to the median plane).
• LATERAL OR EXTERNAL: a surface which is further than another from the median
plane (i.e. away from or relatively further from the median plane).
• CRANIAL: is the head-end of the body. A surface towards or relatively near to the head.
On the limbs, it only applies to structures above the carpus and tarsus. You may also
encounter the term CEPHALIC which means the same thing.
• CAUDAL: A surface towards or relatively near the tail. On the limbs, again it applies to
structures above the carpus and tarsus.
• ROSTRAL: applies to the head region only. A surface towards or relatively near to the
nose.
14.
15. Terms Applied to the Limbs
• PROXIMAL: refers to relative distances of different parts from the long axis of the
body; viz., those parts of the limb or limb structures that are nearest to the body or
main mass. Thus, we have the proximal extremity of limb bones being the upper
extremity and the proximal part of bone structures being mostly the upper parts.
• DISTAL: refers to that part of a structure that is furthest away from the main mass
of tissue. In the appendages, it applies to the lower end of say a limb bone or even
the free end of the limb. With reference to the thoracic limb (pectoral limb) or
forelimb
• DORSAL: refers to the cranial face of the distal part of the forelimb. In addition, it
can refer to the dorsum of the manus (homologue of the hand).
• PALMAR: refers to the face opposite the dorsal face.
16.
17. Relative distances terms
• Terms to Indicate Relative Distances from the Center of the Limb
• Are terms meaning pertaining to or being relative to the axis AXIAL SURFACE of
a digit faces the axis
• ABAXIAL SURFACE faces away from the axis.
Terms to Indicate Relative Distances from the Surface
• SUPERFICIAL: relatively near to the surface of the body, or to the surface of a
solid organ. DEEP: relatively near to the center of the body or the center of a solid
organ.
EXTERNAL OR OUTER: away from the center of a hollow organ.
INTERNAL OR INNER: close to, or in the direction of the center of a hollow
organ
18.
19. # Anatomical Terms Direction
1 Left and Right Individual left and Right
2 Cranial Toward the head of the body
3 rostral Toward the tip of the nose
4 caudal Toward the tail end of the body
5 dorsal Toward the back
6 ventral Toward the belly
7 medial Toward the median plane
8 lateral Away from median plane
9 Deep (Internal) Toward the center
10 Superficial
(External)
Toward the surface
11 Proximal Toward the body
12 Distal Away from the body
13 Palmar Back of forelimb distal to carpus
14 Plantar Back to hindlimb distal to tarsus
15 Dorsal Front of forelimb and hindlimb distal to carpus
and tarsus
20. THANK YOU
References:
• Anatomy and Physio logy of Farm Animals; R.D. Frandson / T.L. Spurgeon; 5th
edition;Lea & Febiger; Philedelphia.
