A growing A–Z guide to the medical English terms for parts and regions of the body. Each entry links to a short post explaining what the term means, where it comes from, how it appears in clinical notes, and how to explain it to a patient. Written for nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals preparing for the Occupational English Test (OET).

A new term is added most days — bookmark this page or follow the Word of the Day category.

A

• Abdomen (Belly) — The abdomen, or belly, is the part of the body between the chest and the pelvis that contains the stomach, intestines, liver and other organs.
• Acromion (Point of the Shoulder) — The acromion is the bony tip of the shoulder blade that forms the highest point of the shoulder and joins the collarbone.
• Ala of the Nose (Nostril Wing) — The ala of the nose is the medical term for the wing of the nostril: the rounded, flared outer wall on each side of the nose.
• Antecubital Fossa (Inner Elbow) — The antecubital fossa is the medical term for the inner elbow: the triangular hollow on the front of the elbow where blood is usually drawn.
• Anterior Superior Iliac Spine (ASIS) — The anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) is the bony point at the front of the hip bone that you can feel just below the waistline.
• Areola (Ring Around the Nipple) — The areola is the circular area of darker, pigmented skin that surrounds the nipple on the breast.
• Auscultatory Triangle (Triangle of Auscultation) — The auscultatory triangle is a small area on the upper back, beside the shoulder blade, where the lungs are easiest to hear with a stethoscope.
• Axilla (Armpit) — The axilla is the medical term for the armpit: the hollow under the shoulder where the arm joins the body.

B

• Beard — A beard is the hair that grows on the lower part of the face, especially the chin, cheeks and jawline, of an adult male.
• Brachium (Upper Arm) — The brachium is the medical term for the upper arm: the part of the arm between the shoulder and the elbow, containing the humerus.
• Bucca (Cheek) — Bucca is the medical term for the cheek: the side of the face between the nose and the ear, as in “buccal swelling” or “buccal mucosa.”
• Buttocks (Gluteal Region) — The buttocks (medical term: gluteal region) are the two rounded, fleshy areas at the back of the hips that you sit on, formed by the gluteal muscles.

C

• Chest (Thorax) — The chest (medical term: thorax) is the front part of the upper body between the neck and the abdomen, containing the heart and lungs.
• Costal Arch (Costal Margin) — The costal arch, or costal margin, is the curved lower edge of the rib cage formed by the cartilage of ribs 7 to 10.

D

• Deltoid Region (Shoulder) — The deltoid region is the rounded area over the top and outer side of the shoulder, formed by the deltoid muscle, where injections are often given.
• Dimple (Cheek Indentation) — A dimple is a small natural indentation in the skin, most often on the cheeks, that appears or deepens when a person smiles.
• Dorsum of the Nose (Bridge of the Nose) — The dorsum of the nose is the medical term for the bridge of the nose: the ridge running from between the eyes down to the tip.

E

• Epigastric Fossa (Pit of the Stomach) — The epigastric fossa is the medical term for the pit of the stomach: the shallow hollow in the upper middle abdomen just below the breastbone.

F

• Flank (Side of the Body) — The flank is the side of the body between the lower ribs and the hip, where flank pain often points to the kidney.

G

• Gingiva (Gums) — Gingiva is the medical term for the gums: the firm pink soft tissue that surrounds the teeth and covers the jawbone.
• Groin (Inguinal Region) — The groin (medical term: inguinal region) is the fold on each side of the body where the lower abdomen meets the top of the thigh.

H

• Hypochondriac Region (Under the Ribs) — The hypochondriac region is the upper area of the abdomen on each side, just beneath the lower ribs, over the liver and the spleen.

I

• Iliac Crest (Top of the Hip Bone) — The iliac crest is the curved upper edge of the hip bone that you can feel under the skin at the sides of the waist.
• Infrascapular Region (Below the Shoulder Blade) — The infrascapular region is the area of the back just below the shoulder blade (scapula), often examined when listening to the lungs.
• Infrasternal Angle (Subcostal Angle) — The infrasternal angle, or subcostal angle, is the V-shaped angle where the lower ribs meet just below the breastbone.
• Intergluteal Cleft (Natal Cleft) — The intergluteal cleft, also called the natal cleft, is the medical term for the groove between the two buttocks.

J

• Jaw (Mandible) — The jaw is the bone that forms the lower part of the face and holds the teeth; the lower jaw is called the mandible and the upper jaw the maxilla.
• Jugular Notch (Sternal Notch) — The jugular notch, also called the sternal or suprasternal notch, is the dip at the top of the breastbone between the two collarbones.

L

• Laryngeal Prominence (Adam’s Apple) — The laryngeal prominence is the medical term for the Adam’s apple: the visible bump of thyroid cartilage on the front of the neck.
• Lentigo (Dark Skin Spot) — A lentigo is a small, flat, dark spot on the skin caused by extra melanin, often called an age spot or sun spot; the plural is lentigines.
• Loin (Lower Back) — The loin is the area of the lower back on each side of the spine, between the ribs and the hips, lying over the kidneys.
• Lumbar Triangle (Petit’s Triangle) — The lumbar triangle, or Petit’s triangle, is a small triangular gap in the muscles of the lower back just above the hip bone.

M

• Mentum (Chin) — Mentum is the medical term for the chin: the lower front part of the face below the mouth, formed by the front of the mandible.
• Midclavicular Line (MCL) — The midclavicular line (MCL) is an imaginary vertical line drawn down the chest from the midpoint of the collarbone, used to locate findings.

N

• Nipple (Mammary Papilla) — The nipple (medical term: mammary papilla) is the small raised structure in the center of the breast where the milk ducts open.
• Nostril (Naris) — A nostril (medical term: naris, plural nares) is one of the two external openings of the nose through which air enters and leaves.

O

• Oculus (Eye) — Oculus is the Latin medical term for the eye, seen in prescriptions as O.D. (right eye), O.S. (left eye) and O.U. (both eyes).

P

• Pupil (Center of the Eye) — The pupil is the black circular opening in the center of the iris that widens or narrows to control how much light enters the eye.

S

• Sternocleidomastoid (SCM Muscle) — The sternocleidomastoid (SCM) is the long muscle on each side of the neck that runs from the breastbone and collarbone to behind the ear.
• Supraclavicular Fossa (Hollow Above the Collarbone) — The supraclavicular fossa is the medical term for the hollow just above the collarbone, on each side of the base of the neck.

T

• Throat (Pharynx) — The throat (medical term: pharynx) is the passage behind the mouth and nose that leads to the esophagus and the trachea.
• Trunk (Torso) — The trunk, or torso, is the central part of the body excluding the head, neck, arms and legs: the chest, abdomen, back and pelvis.

U

• Umbilicus (Belly Button) — The umbilicus is the medical term for the belly button, or navel: the scar in the center of the abdomen where the umbilical cord was attached.

X

• Xiphoid Process (Tip of the Breastbone) — The xiphoid process is the small, pointed piece of cartilage and bone at the lower tip of the breastbone (sternum).