American Sign Language Vocabulary:
Anatomy III
abdomen
Compare to "stomach," below.
stomach
The fingertips of the open "B" hand touch the epigastrium. This handshape is sometimes used in the same way as the bent middle finger in indicating internal organs.
liver (not shown)
The bent middle finger touches the right upper quadrant fairly laterally.
breasts (not shown)
The fingertips of the dominant open "B" hand are used (as in "stomach") to touch each breast, first the non-dominant side, then the dominant.
nipples
Other signers use the "F" handshape, palm out, and move the circle formed by the thumb and forefinger from one breast to the other. (Be careful -- an alternate of this sign, with the hands beginning in fists and the index fingers flicking out can mean "nipple erection."
penis
The middle finger of a "P" handshape taps the nose. This also means "urine."
vagina
The fingers point down to avoid confusion with the sign for "triangle."
blood
This is a compound of "red" and "liquid flowing." Some signers omit the finger stroking the lips for "red."
marrow
This is a compound of "skeleton" and "inside."
skin/flesh
Other signers grasp the skin of the cheek instead.
hair
freckle
This is similar to the sign for "measles" (in which the fingertips also touch the neck.) "Measles" may be signed from the neck up, or from the face down, as in this movie. Sometimes "measles" is preceded by the sign for "red."
muscle
Movies and .gif images displayed on this page are links to the American Sign Language Browser ©2000 Michigan State University Communication Technology Laboratory. All rights reserved.
Text of this page ©2000 Eileen K. Carpenter, MD
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