Anatomical Terminology, Anatomy, Physiology and Subspecialties

Anatomy

the study of the structures of organisms or their parts

Physiology

the study of the function of organisms or their parts

Gross anatomy

unaided, macroanatomy, primarily via dissection

Microanatomy

light or electron microscopy, more common in hearing science

Principal anatomical position

Body erect (standing upright), Arms at rest, Palms facing forward, Thumbs out

Sagittal plane

a vertical plane that divides the body into right and left parts

Frontal (Coronal) plane

a vertical plane that divides the body into front and back parts

Horizontal (transverse) plane

a horizontal plane that divides the body into top and bottom parts

Anterior

toward the front of the body

Posterior

toward the back of the body

Ventral

toward the belly

Dorsal

toward the back

Superior

toward the head

Inferior

toward the lower part of the body

Medial

toward the midline of the body

Lateral

away from the midline of the body

Proximal

toward the root of a limb

Distal

away from the root of a limb

Superficial

toward the surface of the body

Deep

away from the surface of the body

Adduction

movement toward the midline of the body

Abduction

movement away from the midline of the body

Flexion

decreasing the angle between two body parts

Extension

increasing the angle between two body parts

Hyper-

too much

Hypo-

too little