Medical terminology is the foundation of everything in anatomy. Master the prefixes, suffixes, root words, and directional terms — and every system becomes easier to learn.
Proven Mnemonics & Acronyms — fast to learn, hard to forget.
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Directional Terms
SAD PILL
Superior · Anterior · Deep · Posterior · Inferior · Lateral · Left/right
The seven directional terms that describe every body position
Before you can describe any structure in the body you need directional terms. SAD PILL gives you the foundational vocabulary. Superior = toward the head. Inferior = toward the feet. Anterior = toward the front. Posterior = toward the back. Deep = away from surface. Lateral = toward the side. Medial = toward the midline.
Superior
Toward the head — the nose is superior to the mouth
Anterior
Toward the front — the sternum is anterior to the spine
Deep
Away from the body surface — the femur is deep to the skin
Posterior
Toward the back — the spine is posterior to the sternum
Inferior
Toward the feet — the navel is inferior to the chest
Lateral
Toward the side — the ears are lateral to the nose
Left/right
Always from the patient's perspective — not yours
Cranial Nerves
On Old Olympus Towering Tops A Finn And German Viewed Some Hops
The 12 cranial nerves in order — one of the most tested anatomy sequences
The 12 cranial nerves must be memorized in order with their Roman numerals. Each word in the sentence starts with the same letter as the cranial nerve it represents. CN I–XII: Olfactory, Optic, Oculomotor, Trochlear, Trigeminal, Abducens, Facial, Auditory (Vestibulocochlear), Glossopharyngeal, Vagus, Spinal Accessory, Hypoglossal.
Some Say Money Matters But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter More
Sensory · Sensory · Motor · Motor · Both · Motor · Both · Sensory · Both · Both · Motor · Motor
Is each cranial nerve sensory, motor, or both?
Once you know the 12 cranial nerves, you need to know their function type. Each word in this sentence starts with S (Sensory), M (Motor), or B (Both). Use this alongside the first mnemonic to know both the name AND the function of every cranial nerve.
CN I
Sensory — smell only
CN II
Sensory — vision only
CN III
Motor — eye movement
CN IV
Motor — eye movement
CN V
Both — sensation and chewing
CN VI
Motor — lateral eye
CN VII
Both — expression and taste
CN VIII
Sensory — hearing and balance
CN IX
Both — taste and swallowing
CN X
Both — parasympathetic and sensation
CN XI
Motor — SCM and trapezius
CN XII
Motor — tongue movement
Body Planes
SAF
Sagittal · Axial (Transverse) · Frontal (Coronal)
The three body planes — how anatomy divides the body for imaging and description
SAF gives you the three planes used in anatomy and medical imaging. Sagittal cuts left from right. Axial/Transverse cuts top from bottom (think CT scan slices). Frontal/Coronal cuts front from back. Every MRI and CT scan is described using these planes.
Sagittal
Divides left and right — midsagittal = exactly down the middle
Axial
Divides top (superior) from bottom (inferior) — like CT slices
Frontal
Divides front (anterior) from back (posterior) — also called coronal
Common Prefixes
Brady vs Tachy · Hypo vs Hyper · A- means without
Slow · Fast · Below/Under · Above/Excess · Absence of
The five most tested prefixes in all of medical terminology
Master these five prefixes and you can decode hundreds of medical terms instantly. Brady = slow (bradycardia = slow heart). Tachy = fast (tachypnea = fast breathing). Hypo = below (hypoglycemia = low blood sugar). Hyper = above (hypertension = high blood pressure). A- or An- = without (apnea = without breathing, anemia = without enough blood).
Brady-
Slow — bradycardia, bradypnea
Tachy-
Fast — tachycardia, tachypnea
Hypo-
Below normal — hypoglycemia, hypotension, hypothermia
Hyper-
Above normal — hyperglycemia, hypertension, hyperthermia
A-/An-
Without — apnea, anemia, aseptic, analgesia
Common Suffixes
-ITIS burns · -ECTOMY cuts out · -OSTOMY makes a hole · -PLASTY repairs · -SCOPY looks in
The five surgical and pathology suffixes that appear on every anatomy exam
These five suffixes unlock the meaning of hundreds of medical terms. -itis = inflammation (appendicitis, arthritis). -ectomy = removal (appendectomy, tonsillectomy). -ostomy = creating an opening (colostomy, tracheostomy). -plasty = repair or reconstruction (rhinoplasty, arthroplasty). -scopy = visual examination (colonoscopy, laparoscopy).
All 8 carpal bones in order — lateral to medial, proximal to distal
The 8 carpal bones arranged in two rows. Proximal row (lateral to medial): Scaphoid, Lunate, Triquetrum, Pisiform. Distal row (lateral to medial): Trapezium, Trapezoid, Capitate, Hamate. The scaphoid is the most commonly fractured — "anatomical snuffbox" tenderness = scaphoid fracture until proven otherwise.
Scaphoid
Most commonly fractured carpal — anatomical snuffbox
The five most essential organ root words in medical terminology
Know these five roots and decode hundreds of medical terms instantly
These root words appear constantly throughout medicine. Cardiology, cardiomegaly, cardiac. Hepatitis, hepatomegaly, hepatectomy. Nephrology, nephritis, nephrectomy. Pulmonary, pulmonitis. Gastroscopy, gastritis, gastrectomy. Learning root words is more efficient than memorizing individual terms — they combine with prefixes and suffixes to create thousands of medical words.
Standard anatomical position — the reference point for all anatomical descriptions
All anatomical descriptions assume the body is in standard anatomical position. Without this reference point, terms like "anterior" and "posterior" are meaningless. Every directional term, every body plane, and every structural description in anatomy assumes this starting position. FACTS helps you remember all five components.
Facing forward
Eyes looking straight ahead, palms facing forward
Arms at sides
Upper limbs hanging at sides, slightly away from body
Chin level
Head in neutral position, Frankfurt plane horizontal
Toes forward
Feet together, toes pointing anteriorly
Standing erect
Upright standing position — all descriptions reference this
📝 Exam Prep
5 Common Exam Questions
Frequently tested concepts — know these cold before your exam.
❓ What is the difference between medial and lateral?
✅ Medial = toward the midline of the body (nose is medial to the ears). Lateral = away from the midline (ears are lateral to the nose). These are among the most commonly tested directional terms in anatomy.
❓ What are the 12 cranial nerves in order?
✅ On Old Olympus' Towering Top A Finn And German Viewed Some Hops = Olfactory, Optic, Oculomotor, Trochlear, Trigeminal, Abducens, Facial, Auditory (Vestibulocochlear), Glossopharyngeal, Vagus, (Spinal) Accessory, Hypoglossal.
❓ What is anatomical position and why does it matter?
✅ Anatomical position = standing upright, facing forward, arms at sides with palms facing forward (supinated). All directional terms are defined relative to this position. It's the universal reference standard — anterior always means the belly side regardless of how the patient is positioned.
❓ What is the difference between proximal and distal?
✅ Proximal = closer to the point of origin/trunk (the elbow is proximal to the wrist). Distal = farther from the point of origin/trunk (the fingers are distal to the wrist). Primarily used for limbs and tubular structures.
❓ What do the prefixes hyper-, hypo-, brady-, and tachy- mean?
✅ Hyper- = above normal/excessive (hypertension). Hypo- = below normal/deficient (hypoglycemia). Brady- = slow (bradycardia = slow heart rate). Tachy- = fast (tachypnea = fast breathing). These four are extremely high-yield in clinical settings.