ANATOMICAL TERMINOLOGY
ANATOMICAL POSITION
— The standard body "map", or anatomical position is that of the body standing upright, with
the feet at shoulder width and parallel, toes forward. The upper limbs are held out to each
side, and the palms of the hands face forward.
— A body that is lying down is either described as Prone or Supine.
Prone describes a face down orientation, and Supine describes a face up orientation.
BODY PLANES
→ A plane is an imaginary, two dimensional surface that passes through the body.
Sagittal Plane -> divides the body or an organ vertically into the right and left sides. If this
vertical plane runs directly down the middle of the body, it's called a midsagittal plane or a
longitudinal section.
Frontal Plane -> lt divides the body or an organ into an anterior (front) portion and a posterior
(rear) portion. The frontal plane is referred to as Coronal plane.
Transverse (horizontal) Plane -> It divides the body or organ horizontally into upper and
lower portions. It produces images referred to as cross sections.
Oblique Plane -> It has no fixed orientation. It cuts the body at an angle, neither parallel nor
perpendicular to the other planes. It's used to understand complex structures and
movements like the spine or pelvis.
DIRECTIONAL TERMS
Anterior (ventral)-> The front or direction toward the front of the body. The toes are anterior
to the foot.
Posterior (dorsal)-> The back of sth. The popliteus is posterior to the patella.
Superior (Cranial-Cephalic)-> A position above or higher than another part of the body
proper. The orbits are superior to the cris
Inferior (caudal) -> A position below or lower; near or toward the tail ( coccyx or spinal
column). The pelvis is inferior to the abdomen.
, Lateral -> The side of the proper or body. The thumb (pollex) is lateral to the digits.
Medial -> Middle portion of the body. The hallux is the medial toe.
Proximal->A position, in a limb that is nearer to the point of attachment or the trunk of the
body. The brachium is proximal to the antebrachium.
Distal-> A position in a limb that is farther from the point of attachment or the trunk of the
body. The crus is distal to the femur.
Superficial-> A position closer to the surface of the body. The skin is superficial to the benes.
Deep-> A position farther from the surface of the body. The brain is deep to the skull.
BODY CAVITIES
Cranial Cavity-> The cranial bones create it where the brain sits.
ANATOMICAL POSITION
— The standard body "map", or anatomical position is that of the body standing upright, with
the feet at shoulder width and parallel, toes forward. The upper limbs are held out to each
side, and the palms of the hands face forward.
— A body that is lying down is either described as Prone or Supine.
Prone describes a face down orientation, and Supine describes a face up orientation.
BODY PLANES
→ A plane is an imaginary, two dimensional surface that passes through the body.
Sagittal Plane -> divides the body or an organ vertically into the right and left sides. If this
vertical plane runs directly down the middle of the body, it's called a midsagittal plane or a
longitudinal section.
Frontal Plane -> lt divides the body or an organ into an anterior (front) portion and a posterior
(rear) portion. The frontal plane is referred to as Coronal plane.
Transverse (horizontal) Plane -> It divides the body or organ horizontally into upper and
lower portions. It produces images referred to as cross sections.
Oblique Plane -> It has no fixed orientation. It cuts the body at an angle, neither parallel nor
perpendicular to the other planes. It's used to understand complex structures and
movements like the spine or pelvis.
DIRECTIONAL TERMS
Anterior (ventral)-> The front or direction toward the front of the body. The toes are anterior
to the foot.
Posterior (dorsal)-> The back of sth. The popliteus is posterior to the patella.
Superior (Cranial-Cephalic)-> A position above or higher than another part of the body
proper. The orbits are superior to the cris
Inferior (caudal) -> A position below or lower; near or toward the tail ( coccyx or spinal
column). The pelvis is inferior to the abdomen.
, Lateral -> The side of the proper or body. The thumb (pollex) is lateral to the digits.
Medial -> Middle portion of the body. The hallux is the medial toe.
Proximal->A position, in a limb that is nearer to the point of attachment or the trunk of the
body. The brachium is proximal to the antebrachium.
Distal-> A position in a limb that is farther from the point of attachment or the trunk of the
body. The crus is distal to the femur.
Superficial-> A position closer to the surface of the body. The skin is superficial to the benes.
Deep-> A position farther from the surface of the body. The brain is deep to the skull.
BODY CAVITIES
Cranial Cavity-> The cranial bones create it where the brain sits.
