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
