Chapter 1: Orientation to the Human Body - Directional Terms and Body Planes

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing anatomical position, directional terms, and body planes from Chapter 1 notes.

Directional Terms

Anatomical terms that allow the location of body parts to be described in reference to one another.

Anatomical Position

A standard body position characterized by standing with feet together, facing forward, looking straight ahead, and palms facing forward.

Body Planes

Sections or planes along which the body or an organ is cut or viewed when looking at models, MRIs, X-rays, or dissection specimens.

Superior

Above or directly toward the top of the body (e.g., the cranium is the most superior bone; the head is superior to the shoulders).

Inferior

Below another structure (e.g., the feet are inferior to the knees).

Anterior

Toward the front of the body (e.g., the eyeball is anterior to the vertebral column).

Posterior

Toward the back of the body (e.g., the spine/vertebral column is posterior to the heart, liver, or eyes).

Medial

Closer to the midline or towards the middle of the body (e.g., the nose is medial compared to the cheek; the belly button is medial to the shoulders).

Lateral

Toward the side of the body, away from the midline (e.g., the lungs are lateral to the heart).

Intermediate

In between two structures (e.g., the eye is intermediate between the nose and the ear).

Proximal

Closer to the trunk (shoulders, chest, etc.) or point of attachment (e.g., the wrist is proximal to the fingers).

Distal

Further from the trunk or point of attachment (e.g., the knee is more distal from the hip than the thigh).

Superficial

Towards the surface or lying on the outside of the body (e.g., the skin is superficial to all other organs).

Deep

Away from the surface, more internal, or toward the inside of the body (e.g., the heart is deep to the skeleton and rib cage).

Sagittal Plane

A cut made lengthwise along the body that divides it into left and right parts.

Frontal Plane

A cut made lengthwise along the body that divides it into front (anterior) and back (posterior) parts.

Transverse Plane

A cut made along a horizontal plane that divides the body or an organ into top (superior) and bottom (inferior) parts.