10, 11, 12 planes, direction, and axial of the body
superior
above
Longitudinal axis and dorsoventral axis
alternate term for vertical axis.
Regional terms
are words that describe the two major regions of the body: the axial region and the appendicular region
posterior/dorsal
back of the body
inferior
below
proximal
body part that is closer to a particular point of reference
distal
body part that is further away from a muscle attachment or other point of reference is
medial
close to midline
deep
closer to middle or inside of the body
caudal
closer to the feet
cranial
closer to the head
parallel
directional term that means two structures lie in the same plane and are oriented so they cannot possibly touch each other
lateral
farther from the midline
anterior/ventral
front of the body
Symmetry
having a similar, balanced, or proportional form among different parts of a structure.
Superior
is a directional term that describes something that is above something else when viewed in anatomical position.
Inferior
is a directional term that describes something that is below something else when viewed in anatomical position.
Lateral
is a directional term that describes something that is further from the middle of the body than something else when viewed in anatomical position
Medial.
is a directional term that describes something that is more toward the middle of the body than something else when viewed in anatomical position.
Perpendicular
is a directional term that means two structures are at right angles to each other.
Posterior
is a directional term used to describe something as being behind something else when viewed in anatomical position.
Anterior
is a directional term used to describe something as being in front of something else when viewed in anatomical position.
midsagittal plane
is a sagittal plane that runs through the body's midline
directional term
is a specific word used to describe the relative location of one or more body parts.
Bilateral symmetry
is a type of symmetry in which there are two matching halves.
sagittal horizontal axis
is alternative term for sagittal transverse axis.
frontal horizontal axis
is an alternative term for anteroposterior axis.
oblique plane
is an imaginary plane that crosses the other body planes, such as the frontal, sagittal, and transverse planes, at a diagonal.
frontal plane, also called the coronal plane,
is an imaginary plane that divides the body into front and back sections
sagittal plane, also called the median plane,
is an imaginary plane that divides the body into left and right sections.
transverse plane, also called the horizontal plane,
is an imaginary plane that divides the body into top and bottom sections.
anatomical plane
is an imaginary two-dimensional section that cuts through the human body
midline
is an invisible vertical line that runs from the top of the head through the center of the torso and down between the feet.
parasagittal plane
is any sagittal plane that does not run through the midline
vertical axis
is the axis where the frontal and sagittal planes meet.
sagittal transverse axis
is the axis where the frontal and transverse planes meet
anteroposterior axis
is the axis where the transverse and sagittal planes meet.
axial region
is the central part of the body that includes the head, neck, and torso.
appendicular region
is the part of the body that includes the limbs, which are attached to the axial region.
pelvis
is the part of the body that is around the hips and is part of the appendicular region, although it is located at the bottom of the torso.
Anatomical position
is the position in which the body faces forward, with hands at the sides and palms facing forward.
superficial
near surface of the skin
torso/trunk
part of the body that extends from the neck down to the pelvis and includes the chest, back, and stomach.
Medical imaging,
which is the process of taking pictures of the inside of the body