Introduction to Anatomy
The Noted Anatomist
An Introduction to Anatomy
In this blog post, we will be discussing the anatomical position, directional terms used in
anatomy, and anatomical planes and sections. Let's dive in!
The Anatomical Position
The anatomical position is a standard position used as a point of reference in describing
location and direction in the human body. It consists of the following:
● The patient is facing forward
● The arms are down at the sides
● The palms of the hands are facing forward with the thumbs pointing to the sides
● It is always from the viewpoint of the patient, cadaver, image, or figure
By using the anatomical position, we can accurately describe the location of anatomical
structures regardless of the position of the body.
Anatomical Terms of Position
To be more specific in our directional and descriptive terms, anatomists have come up with a
list of terms to accurately describe the location of one anatomical structure in relation to
another. Here are the most common terms used:
● Anterior (or ventral): towards the front
● Posterior (or dorsal): towards the back
● Superior: towards the top
● Inferior: towards the bottom
● Cranial (or cephalic): towards the head
● Caudal: towards the tail
● Medial: towards the midline
The Noted Anatomist
An Introduction to Anatomy
In this blog post, we will be discussing the anatomical position, directional terms used in
anatomy, and anatomical planes and sections. Let's dive in!
The Anatomical Position
The anatomical position is a standard position used as a point of reference in describing
location and direction in the human body. It consists of the following:
● The patient is facing forward
● The arms are down at the sides
● The palms of the hands are facing forward with the thumbs pointing to the sides
● It is always from the viewpoint of the patient, cadaver, image, or figure
By using the anatomical position, we can accurately describe the location of anatomical
structures regardless of the position of the body.
Anatomical Terms of Position
To be more specific in our directional and descriptive terms, anatomists have come up with a
list of terms to accurately describe the location of one anatomical structure in relation to
another. Here are the most common terms used:
● Anterior (or ventral): towards the front
● Posterior (or dorsal): towards the back
● Superior: towards the top
● Inferior: towards the bottom
● Cranial (or cephalic): towards the head
● Caudal: towards the tail
● Medial: towards the midline
