Kin 2500 Ch. 1 Anatomical Terminology and Directional Terms
Superior
Above or higher in position
Upper limb (extremity)
Attached to the trunk and consists of the shoulder, armpit, arm, forearm, wrist, and hand
Deep
Away from the body surface; more internal
Lateral
Away from the midline of the body
inferior
Below or lower in position
Proximal
Closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk
parasagittal plane
Divides body into unequal right and left sides
Plane
Flat surfaces that pass through the body
Posterior
Nearer to or at the back of the body
Anterior
Nearer to or at the front of the body
Dorsal
Relating to the back side of the body; toward the back
Ventral
Relating to the belly side of the body, toward the belly
caudal
Relating to the tail; at or near the tail or posterior part of the body
Prone
The body is lying face down
Supine
The body is lying face up
Frontal (coronal) plane
Vertical plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior parts
Transverse Plane
a horizontal plane that divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions
Neck
a modified portion of the trunk that supports the head and attaches it to the rest of the trunk
Anatomical position
a standard position in which the body is facing forward, the feet are parallel to each other, and the arms are at the sides with the palms facing forward
Sagittal plane
a vertical plane that divides the body into right and left parts
Oblique plane
any plane that passes through the body at an angle that is not 90 degrees
Groin
area on the front surface of the body marked by a crease on each side, where the trunk attaches to the thighs
Lower Limb (Extremity)
attached to the trunk and consists of the buttock, thigh, leg, ankle, and foot
intermediate
between two structures
Trunk
consists of the neck, thorax, abdomen, and pelvis
Head
consists of the skull and face
Sections
cuts of the body (or one of its organs) made along one of the planes provides a flat two dimensional surface of the original three dimensional structure
Midsagittal Plane
divides the body into equal right and left sides
Distal
farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk
Medial
nearer to the midline of the body
Contralateral
on the opposite side of the body from another structure
Ipsilateral
on the same side of the body as another structure
Rostral
relating to the nose and mouth region; toward the face
Cranial
relating to the skull or head
Superficial
toward or on the surface of the body
internal
toward the inside of a structure
External
toward the outside of a structure
