ADVO 3000 Unit A: Review of Anatomical Planes and Directions

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical planes, directional terminology, definitions, and anatomical reference diagrams from ADVO 3000 Unit A.

Anatomical position

The standard initial point of reference where the patient is facing forward, arms down at side, palms forward, and thumbs out; right and left are determined from the patient's viewpoint.

Anterior / Ventral

Directional term meaning towards the front.

Posterior / Dorsal

Directional term meaning towards the back.

Superior

Directional term meaning towards the top.

Inferior

Directional term meaning towards the bottom.

Cranial

Directional term meaning towards the top or head (referencing the brain and spinal cord).

Caudal

Directional term meaning towards the bottom or tail (referencing the skull and vertebral column).

Medial

Directional term meaning towards the midline.

Lateral

Directional term meaning towards the side.

Proximal

Directional term meaning situated closer to the origin of the body.

Distal

Directional term meaning situated farther from the origin of the body.

Deep

Directional term meaning situated towards the inside.

Superficial

Directional term meaning situated on the surface (external).

Internal

Directional term meaning inside.

External

Directional term meaning outside.

Volar

Anatomical term referring to relation to the palm of the hand or sole of the foot.

Sagittal plane

A longitudinal line dividing structures into left and right halves (specifically unequal halves; used to study anterior/posterior and superior/inferior relationships).

Midsagittal plane

A vertical plane running along the midline that divides the body into equal left and right parts.

Frontal / Coronal plane

A longitudinal plane dividing the body into anterior and posterior parts; used to study right/left and superior/inferior relationships.

Transverse / Horizontal plane (Axial)

A horizontal line dividing the body into superior and inferior parts; viewed head to foot by anatomists and foot to head in radiology.

Anatomical Directions Diagram (Labels A–H)

A: superior/cranial; B: posterior/dorsal; C: inferior/caudal; D: anterior/ventral; E: proximal; F: distal; G: lateral; H: medial.

Anatomical Planes of Division Diagram (Labels I–K)

I: transverse plane; J: sagittal plane; K: frontal/coronal plane.