Anatomy Orientation

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.

Ventral (anterior)

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

*The terms ventral and anterior are synonymous in humans, but this is not the same case in four-legged animals

Dorsal (posterior)

Toward or at the back of the body; behind.

*The terms ventral and anterior are synonymous in humans, but this is not the same case in four-legged animals

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.

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.

Sagittal Plane

Divides body vertically into right or left parts

Frontal (coronal) plane

divided body vertically into anterior and posterior parts

Transverse (horizontal) plane

divides body horizontally (90 degrees to vertical plane) into superior and inferior parts

Anatomy

the structure or parts, taken as a whole

Physiology

the study of how the body and its parts work or function

anatomical position

To stand erect with arms at the sides and palms of the hands turned forward

Adduction

Movement toward the midline of the body

Abduction

Movement away from the midline of the body

Elevation

raising a body part

Depression

lowering a body part

Protraction

moving a body part forward

Retraction

moving a part backward

Flexion

Decreases the angle of a joint

Extension

Increases the angle of a joint

Hyperextension

Extreme extension

Rotation

Motion along an axis