Biomed Chapter 1.6 Anatomical Position

Anatomical position

The body standing upright, with the feet at shoulder width and parallel, toes forward. The upper limbs are held out to each side, and the palms of the hands face forward

Prone

Lying face down

Supine

Lying face up

Sagittal plane

divides into left and right

Frontal plane

divides into front and back

Transverse plane

divides into upper and lower parts

Frons (frontal)

Forehead

Oculus (orbital or ocular)

Eye

Cranium (cranial)

Skull

Facies (facial)

Face

Bucca (buccal)

Cheek

Auris (otic)

Ear

Nasus (nasal)

Nose

Cervicis (cervical)

Neck

Oris (oral)

Mouth

Mentis (mental)

Chin

Axilla (axillary)

Armpit

Brachium (branchial)

Arm

Antecubitis (antecubital)

Front of elbow

Antebrachium (antebrachial)

Forearm

Carpus (carpal)

Wrist

Pollex

Thumb

Palma (palmar)

Palm

Digits (phalanges)

Fingers and toes

Hallux

Great toe

Thorcis (thorax or thoracic)

Chest

Mamma (mammary)

Breast

Abdomen (abdominal)

Abdomen

Umbilicus (umbilical)

Belly button

Hip (coxal)

Hip

Trunk

chest, abdomen, and hip (torso)

Pelvis (pelvic)

Pelvis

Inguen (inguinal)

Groin

Pubis

Pubic

Femur (femoral)

Thigh

Patella (patellar)

Kneecap

Crus (crural)

Leg

Tarsus (tarsal)

Ankle

Pes (pedal)

Foot

Cephalon (cephalic)

Head

Upper Lim

shoulder to fingers

Lower Limb

thigh to foot

Shoulder (acromial)

Shoulder

Dorsum (dorsal)

Back

Olecranon (olecranal)

Back of elbow

lumbus (lumbar)

Loin

Sacrum (sacral)

Tail bone

Manus (manual)

Hand

Gluteus (gluteal)

Butt

Popliteus (popliteal)

Back of knee

Sura (sural)

Calf

Calcaneus (calcaneal)

Heel

Planta (plantar)

Sole of foot

Anterior

Describes the front or direction toward the front of the body.

Ventral

Less common way to describe the front or direction toward the front of the body.

Posterior

Describes the back or direction toward the back of the body.

Dorsal

Less common way to describe the back or direction toward the back of the body. The popliteus is posterior to the patella.

Superior

Descirbes aposition above or higher than another part of the body proper.

Cranial

Less common way to describe a position above or higher than another part of the body proper.

Inferior

Describes a position below or lower than another part of the body proper; near or toward the tail (in humans, the coccyx, or lowest part of the spinal column).

Caudal

Less common way to describe a position below or lower than another part of the body proper; near or toward the tail (in humans, the coccyx, or lowest part of the spinal column).

Lateral

Describes the side or direction toward the side of the body.

Medial

Describes the middle or direction toward the middle of the body.

Proximal

Describes a position in a limb that is nearer to the point of attachment or the trunk of the body.

Distal

Describes a position in a limb that is farther from the point of attachment or the trunk of the body. The crus is distal to the femur.

Superficial

Describes a position closer to the surface of the body.

Deep

Describes a position farther from the surface of the body.