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Anatomy & Physiology vocabulary · Body Regions and Directional Terms

Limb

Meaning in anatomy & physiology, with examples

/lɪm/nounCore term

In anatomy & physiology, limb means: An arm or a leg. In anatomy the arm is called the upper limb (shoulder to hand) and the leg is called the lower limb (hip to foot).

In Turkish: uzuv, ekstremite

How it is used

Anatomy textbooks prefer upper limb and lower limb, because in strict anatomy 'arm' means only the part between the shoulder and elbow, and 'leg' only the part between the knee and ankle. Clinicians talk about limb weakness, limb pain and limb ischemia.

Example sentences

  1. The brachial plexus supplies the nerves of the upper limb.

  2. There was no weakness in any of the four limbs.

Common collocations

  • upper limb
  • lower limb
  • limb weakness
  • limb girdle
  • proximalCloser to the point where a limb joins the trunk, or closer to the beginning of a structure. For example, the elbow is proximal to the wrist.
  • distalFarther from the point where a limb joins the trunk, or farther from the beginning of a structure. For example, the fingers are distal to the wrist.
  • femurThe thigh bone: the long bone between the hip and the knee. It is the longest and strongest bone in the human body.
  • jointA place where two or more bones meet. Some joints, like the knee, move freely; others, like those between the bones of the skull, hardly move at all.

More terms: Body Regions and Directional Terms

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.