Human Anatomy & Physiology Terms

Anatomical Position

A standardized position involving a person standing upright, facing forward, with arms at the sides and palms facing forward.

Superior

Above or toward the head.

Inferior

Below or toward the feet.

Anterior (Ventral)

Front of the body.

Posterior (Dorsal)

Back of the body.

Medial

Closer to the midline of the body.

Lateral

Farther from the midline.

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment.

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment.

Sagittal Plane

Divides the body into left and right sections.

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

Divides the body into anterior and posterior sections.

Transverse Plane

Divides the body into superior and inferior sections.

Dorsal Cavity

Contains the cranial and spinal cavities.

Ventral Cavity

Contains thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Axial Region

Includes the head, neck, and trunk.

Appendicular Region

Includes the limbs and their attachments to the axis.

Medical Terminology

The use of prefixes, suffixes, and root words to form medical terms.

Body Planes

Imaginary lines used to divide the body into sections.