Anatomical Terminology: Positions, Directions, and Body Planes

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing essential anatomical orientation, directional, and sectional terms from the lecture.

Anatomical Position

Standard reference stance: body upright, face forward, arms at sides with palms forward, feet shoulder-width apart and pointing forward.

Prone

Body lying face-down orientation.

Supine

Body lying face-up orientation.

Anterior (Ventral)

Directional term meaning toward the front of the body.

Posterior (Dorsal)

Directional term meaning toward the back of the body.

Superior (Cranial)

Directional term meaning toward the head or upper part of a structure.

Inferior (Caudal)

Directional term meaning toward the tail or lower part of a structure.

Medial

Directional term meaning toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Directional term meaning away from the midline of the body.

Proximal

Directional term meaning closer to the trunk; used only for limbs.

Distal

Directional term meaning farther from the trunk; used only for limbs.

Superficial

Directional term meaning toward or at the body surface.

Deep

Directional term meaning away from the body surface; more internal.

Section

A two-dimensional surface of a three-dimensional structure that has been cut.

Plane

An imaginary flat surface passing through the body used to describe sections.

Sagittal Plane

Vertical plane dividing body or organ into right and left parts.

Midsagittal (Median) Plane

Sagittal plane that runs along the midline, creating equal right and left halves.

Parasagittal Plane

Sagittal plane dividing body into unequal right and left portions, lateral to midline.

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

Vertical plane dividing body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

Transverse (Horizontal) Plane

Plane dividing body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions; produces cross-sections.

Oblique Plane

Plane that cuts the body or organ along an angle not at 90° to the other planes.

Regional Terms

Standardized names for specific body areas (e.g., brachium, antebrachium) that enhance descriptive precision.