terminology and b0dy planes

terminology and body planes

essential for accurately describing body parts, guiding medical procedures, and ensuring clear communication in healthcare and anatomy

anatomical position

the body is standing upright, facing forward, with arms at the sides, palms facing forward, and feet parallel and flat on the floor

superior (cranial or ceplalic)

toward the head or upper part of a structure or the body; above

inferior (caudal)

away from the head 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 backside of the body; behind

proximal

close to the origin of the body part of point of attachment to a limb to the body trunk

distal

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

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

internediate

between a more medial and a more lateral structure

a sagittal section

divides the body (or organ) into left and right parts

a median, or midsagittal

section divides the body (or organ) into equal left and right parts

a frontal, or coronal

section divides the body (or organ) into anterior and posterior parts

a transverse, or cross

section divides the body (or organ) into superior and inferior parts