Anatomy Directional Terms

Anatomical Position

1. standing erect 2. head facing forward 3. feet forward and slightly apart 4. arms at side, out slightly 5. palms facing forward

Appendicular Part

appendages / limbs attached to the axis

Axial Part

axis of the body example: head, neck, trunk

intermediate

between a more medial and a more lateral structure

proximal

closer to the origin of the body part or point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

distal

farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachement of a limb to the body trunk

Ventral

*AKA anterior *toward or at the front of the body *the front of

Inferior

*AKA caudal *away from the head end or toward the lower part of the structure *below

frontal plane

*AKA coronal plane *vertical plane *dividing body into anterior and posterior parts

superior

*AKA cranial *toward the head or upper part of the structure *above

transverse plane

*AKA cross-section *horizontal plane *divides body into superior and inferior parts

superficial

*AKA external *toward or at the body surface

deep

*AKA internal *away from the body surface *more internal

midsagittal plane

*AKA median *plane exactly in the midline

Dorsal

*AKA posterior *toward teh back of the body *behind

lateral

*away from the midline of the body *the outer side

Body Planes

1. Sagittal 2. Frontal 3. Transverse

parasagittal plane

plane offset from the midline

medial

toward the midline of the body *the inner side

directional terms

used to explain where one body structure is in relation to another

sagittal plane

vertical plane *divides body into right and left parts