List of anatomical landmarks

List of Anatomical Landmarks

Anatomical landmarks are key points on the body used by health professionals and anatomists to identify the location of other structures or to describe the location of surgical procedures. These landmarks are crucial for understanding human anatomy, performing physical examinations, and conducting medical procedures. This article provides a comprehensive list of anatomical landmarks, categorized by body region.

Head and Neck

• External occipital protuberance - A prominence on the occipital bone of the skull, easily felt at the back of the head.
• Mastoid process - A conical prominence of the temporal bone behind the ear, serving as a site of muscle attachment.
• Suprasternal notch - A visible dip at the top of the sternum between the clavicles.
• Hyoid bone - A U-shaped bone in the neck that supports the tongue and is an attachment point for neck muscles.

Thorax

• Xiphoid process - The smallest and lowest part of the sternum, providing an important landmark for CPR.
• Costal margin - The lower edge of the chest formed by the bottom edge of the rib cage.
• Midclavicular line - An imaginary line running vertically down the surface of the body passing through the midpoint of the clavicle.

Abdomen

• Umbilicus - Commonly known as the belly button, it is the scar left on the abdomen after the detachment of the umbilical cord.
• McBurney's point - A point on the right side of the abdomen, 1/3 the distance from the anterior superior iliac spine to the umbilicus, significant in the diagnosis of appendicitis.

Pelvis

• Anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) - A bony projection of the iliac bone, part of the pelvis, which can be felt at the front of the hips.
• Pubic symphysis - A cartilaginous joint located between the left and right pubic bones.

Upper Limb

• Acromion - The outermost point of the spine of the scapula, forming the highest point of the shoulder.
• Olecranon - The large, curved bony eminence of the ulna, forming the point of the elbow.
• Radial styloid process - A projection of bone on the lateral side of the distal radius bone in the forearm.

Lower Limb

• Greater trochanter - A large, prominent projection of bone on the lateral side of the femur.
• Medial malleolus - The bony prominence on the inner side of the ankle, part of the tibia.
• Lateral malleolus - The bony prominence on the outer side of the ankle, part of the fibula.

See Also

• Human anatomy
• Skeletal system
• Muscular system

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