Body Positions and Directional Terms

These flashcards cover important anatomical terms related to body positions and directional terms for studying anatomy.

Anatomical Position

Person stands erect, face forward, arms at the sides with palms facing forward.

Anatomy

The form and structure, and relationship between body parts

Physiology

The function of the body

11 organ systems

Integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive

Six structural levels of organization

Chemical, cellular, tissue, organ, organism

Supine

Person lies face upward.

Prone

Person lies face downward.

Superior

Higher or above, or toward the upper part of the body.

Inferior

Lower or below, or toward the lower part of the body.

Anterior

Toward the front of the body.

Posterior

Toward the back of the body.

Ventral

Toward the front of the body; synonymous with anterior.

Dorsal

Toward the back of the body; synonymous with posterior.

Cephalic

Closer to the head than another structure.

Caudal

Closer to the tail bone (coccyx) than another structure.

Ipsilateral

On the same side of the body.

Contralateral

On the opposite side of the body.

Proximal

Closer to the attachment point (origin) than another structure.

Distal

Farther from the attachment point (origin) than another structure.

Midline

The plane dividing the body into equal right and left sides.

Lateral

Away from the vertical midline of the body.

Medial

Toward the vertical midline of the body.

Superficial

Toward the surface or on it; external.

Deep

Away from the surface; internal.

Coronal (frontal) Plane

Runs from side to side and divides the body into anterior and posterior portions.

Midsagittal (median) Plane

Runs from front to back through the midline and divides the body into right and left halves.

Sagittal Plane

Runs vertically through the body and parallel to the median plane.

Transverse (horizontal) Plane

Runs parallel to the ground and divides the body into superior and inferior portions.

Longitudinal Plane

Is parallel to the long axis of a structure or an organ.

Cross Section

Intersects the long axis of a structure or an organ at a right angle.

Oblique Section

Intersects the long axis at other than a right angle.

Body Position

Refers to the specific orientation of the body in space.

Directional Term

Terms used to describe the location of structures in relation to each other.