Chapter 1 Language of Anatomy

Anatomical position

•Face up

•Palms up

•Toes foward

•Right and left is the persons right and left

Frontal (coronal) plane

a vertical anatomical plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections.

Sagiital plane

an imaginary longitudinal plane dividing the body into right and left halves

Transverse (horizontal) plane

horizontal plane that is perpendicular to both the sagittal and coronal planes. It divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) sections

Superior (cranial)

Toward the head end or upper part of a structure or the body; above

Inferior (caudal)

Away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; below

Anterior (ventral)

Toward or at the front of the body; in front of

Posterior (dorsal)

Toward or at the back of the body; behind

Medial

Toward or at the midline of the body on the inner side of

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body, on the outer side of

Intermediate

Between a more medial and a more lateral structure

Proximal

Closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

Distal

Farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

Superficial (external)

Toward or at the body surface

Deep (internal)

Away from the body surface, more internal

Body Cavities

a space created in an organism which houses organs

Abdominopelvic quadrants

Right upper, Right Lower, Left Upper, Left Lower