Anatomy & Physiology For Dummies
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The anatomical regions (shown) compartmentalize the human body. Just like on a map, a region refers to a certain area. The body is divided into two major portions: axial and appendicular.

The axial body runs right down the center (axis) and consists of everything except the limbs, meaning the head, neck, thorax (chest and back), abdomen, and pelvis. The appendicular body consists of appendages, otherwise known as upper and lower extremities (which you call arms and legs).

anatomy-physiology-regions
Illustration by Kathryn Born, MA

The body's regions: Anterior view (a), Posterior view (b).

Here's a list of the axial body's main regions:

  • Head and neck
    • Cephalic (head)
    • Cervical (neck)
    • Cranial (skull)
    • Frontal (forehead)
    • Nasal (nose)
    • Occipital (base of skull)
    • Oral (mouth)
    • Orbital/ocular (eyes)
  • Thorax
    • Axillary (armpit)
    • Costal (ribs)
    • Deltoid (shoulder)
    • Mammary (breast)
    • Pectoral (chest)
    • Scapular (shoulder blade)
    • Sternal (breastbone)
    • Vertebral (backbone)
  • Abdomen
    • Abdominal (abdomen)
    • Gluteal (buttocks)
    • Inguinal (bend of hip)
    • Lumbar (lower back)
    • Pelvic (area between hipbones)
    • Perineal (area between anus and external genitalia)
    • Pubic (genitals)
    • Sacral (end of vertebral column)
Here's a list of the appendicular body's main regions:
  • Upper extremity
    • Antebrachial (forearm)
    • Antecubital (inner elbow)
    • Brachial (upper arm)
    • Carpal (wrist)
    • Cubital (elbow)
    • Digital (fingers/toes)
    • Manual (hand)
    • Palmar (palm)
  • Lower extremity
    • Crural (shin, front of lower leg)
    • Femoral (thigh)
    • Patellar (front of knee)
    • Pedal (foot)
    • Plantar (arch of foot)
    • Popliteal (back of knee)
    • Sural (calf, back of lower leg)
    • Tarsal (ankle)

About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book authors:

Erin Odya is an anatomy and physiology teacher at Carmel High School in Carmel, Indiana, one of Indiana’s top schools.

Maggie Norris is a freelance science writer living in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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