An Introduction to the Human Body: Regions, Directional Terms, Planes, and Cavities

Vocabulary flashcards covering regional terminology, anatomical directional terms, body planes, and major body cavities.

Prone

Describes a face-down orientation of a body that is lying down.

Supine

Describes a face-up orientation of a body that is lying down.

Brachium

The anatomical term reserved for the arm or upper arm.

Antebrachium

The anatomical term used for the forearm.

Femur

The anatomical term reserved for the thigh.

Crus

The anatomical term reserved for the portion of the lower limb between the knee and the ankle (leg).

Pollex

The anatomical term for the thumb.

Hallux

The anatomical term for the great toe.

Anterior (or ventral)

Describes the front or direction toward the front of the body.

Posterior (or dorsal)

Describes the back or direction toward the back of the body.

Superior (or cranial)

Describes a position above or higher than another part of the body proper.

Inferior (or caudal)

Describes a position below or lower than another part of the body proper; near or toward the tail (in humans, the coccyx).

Lateral

Describes the side or direction toward the side of the body.

Medial

Describes the middle or direction toward the middle of the body.

Proximal

Describes a position in a limb that is nearer to the point of attachment or the trunk of the body.

Distal

Describes a position in a limb that is farther from the point of attachment or the trunk of the body.

Superficial

Describes a position closer to the surface of the body.

Deep

Describes a position farther from the surface of the body.

Section

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

Plane

An imaginary two-dimensional surface that passes through the body.

Sagittal plane

The plane that divides the body or an organ vertically into right and left sides.

Midsagittal plane (or median plane)

A sagittal plane that runs directly down the middle of the body, dividing it into equal right and left sides.

Parasagittal plane

A sagittal plane that divides the body into unequal right and left sides, less commonly referred to as a longitudinal section.

Frontal plane (or coronal plane)

The plane that divides the body or an organ into an anterior (front) portion and a posterior (rear) portion.

Transverse plane

The plane that divides the body or organ horizontally into upper and lower portions, producing cross sections.

Oblique plane

A plane that intersects the body at an angle and is not parallel or perpendicular to any of the three commonly used anatomical planes.

Dorsal (posterior) cavity

One of the largest body compartments that contains and protects delicate internal organs located toward the rear of the body.

Ventral (anterior) cavity

One of the largest body compartments that contains internal organs and allows for significant changes in their size and shape during function.