The Human Body

Anatomical Position

Standing, face forward, arms at side, palms forward, toes forward.

Coronal (Frontal) Plane

Divides the body into front & back halves.

Sagittal Plane

Divides the body into right & left halves.

Transverse Plane

Divides the body into top & bottom halves.

Superior

Above (towards the head).

Inferior

Below (towards the feet).

Anterior (Ventral)

Front of the body.

Posterior (Dorsal)

Back of the body.

Medial

Towards the midline.

Lateral

Away from the midline.

Proximal

Closer to the body’s center (e.g., shoulder is proximal to hand).

Distal

Farther from the body’s center (e.g., fingers are distal to the elbow).

Superficial

Closer to the surface (e.g., skin is superficial to muscles).

Deep

Further from the surface (e.g., bones are deep to muscles).

Integumentary System

Includes skin, hair, and nails; functions include protection, temperature regulation, and sensory reception.

Gastrointestinal System

System involved in digestions; includes organs like the stomach, liver, and intestines.

Respiratory System

System responsible for gas exchange; includes organs like lungs and trachea.

Urinary System

System that filters blood and excretes waste; includes kidneys and bladder.

Reproductive System

System responsible for reproduction; includes male and female reproductive organs.

Circulatory System

Includes heart and blood vessels; responsible for transporting blood throughout the body.

Nervous System

System that controls body functions; includes the brain and spinal cord.

Musculoskeletal System

System providing structure and movement; includes muscles and bones.

Axial Skeleton

The part of the skeleton including the skull, spine, ribs, and sternum.

Appendicular Skeleton

The part of the skeleton including limbs and girdles.

Pelvis (in sex estimation)

Most reliable feature for sex estimation; narrow and deep in males, wide and shallow in females.

Bone as a Living Tissue

Bone adapts to stress; can lose mass in low-gravity environments.