Anatomy Language and Planes - Study Notes (BIO 1121 Lab 1)

Directional Terms

  • Prone: position of body lying face DOWN

  • Supine: position of body lying face UP

  • Anterior: Towards front of body

  • Posterior: Towards back of body

  • Superior: Above, towards head

  • Inferior: Below, away from head

  • Medial: towards midline of body

  • Lateral: Away from midline of body

  • Proximal: Towards beginning of limb or point of origin

  • Distal: Away from beginning of limb or point of origin

  • Bilateral: Occurring on both right and left sides (both sides of midline)

    • Ex: Lungs are on both sides of the thoracic cavity

  • Unilateral: Occurring on only one side of body (one side of midline)

    • Ex: Your spleen is only on the left side of the body

  • Ipsilateral: Same side of body (same side comparison)

    • Ex: Your right lung is on same side as your liver

  • Contralateral: Opposite sides of body (opposite side comparison)

    • Ex: Your right lung is on the opposite side of your spleen

  • Superficial: Closest to the skin/surface

  • Deep: Furthest from the skin/surface

  • Significance and applications: These terms create a universal language for describing locations and directions in anatomy, essential for dissections, imaging interpretation, clinical assessments, and communicating about injuries or procedures.

Planes of the Body

  • Coronal: Divides body into anterior & posterior sections

  • Sagittal/Midsagittal: Divides body into left and right sections

  • Transverse: Divides body into superior & inferior sections

  • Significance: Planes are used to describe slices in imaging (CT, MRI), surgical approaches, and organizing anatomical descriptions in textbooks and lectures.

Regional Terms

  • Nasal (nose)

  • Oral (mouth)

  • Cervical (neck)

  • Cephalic (head)

  • Frontal (forehead)

  • Orbital (eye)

  • Buccal (cheek)

  • Mental (chin)

  • Axillary (armpit)

  • Brachial (arm)

  • Antecubital (front of elbow)

  • Antebrachial (forearm)

  • Carpal (wrist)

  • Palmar (palm)

  • Digital (finger)

  • (a) Anterior view

    • Sternal (sternum)
    • Thoracic
    • Pectoral (chest)
    • Abdominal (abdomen)

  • Occipital (back of head)

  • Auricular (ear)

  • Thoracic

  • Vertebral (spinal column)

  • Olecranal (elbow)

  • Dorsum of the hand

  • (b) Posterior view

    • Deltoid (shoulder)
    • Brachial (arm)
    • Abdominal
    • Lumbar (lower back)

  • Coxal (hip)

  • Femoral (thigh)

  • Patellar (kneecap)

  • Crural (leg)

  • Pelvic

  • Inguinal (groin)

  • Pubic

  • (a) Anterior view

    • Coxal (hip)
    • Femoral (thigh)
    • Patellar (kneecap)
    • Crural (leg)
    • Pelvic
    • Inguinal (groin)
    • Pubic
    • Tarsal (ankle)
    • Dorsum of the foot
    • Digital (toe)

  • (b) Posterior view

    • Sacral
    • Gluteal (buttock)
    • Femoral (thigh)
    • Perineal
    • Sural (calf)
    • Lumbar (lower back)
    • Popliteal (back of knee)
    • Calcaneal (heel)
    • Plantar (sole of foot)

  • Notes on orientation: the lists above cover common regional terms used to locate structures from head to toe and from anterior to posterior views.

Actions

  • Flexion: Decrease angle of joint

  • Extension: Increase angle of joint

  • Adduction: Movement towards midline of body

  • Abduction: Movement away from midline of body

  • Medial Rotation: Rotation towards midline

  • Lateral Rotation: Rotation away from midline

  • Supination: Movement of palm facing anterior

  • Pronation: Movement of palm facing posterior

  • Elevation: Movement towards superior

  • Depression: Movement towards inferior

  • Dorsiflexion: Upward movement of foot/ankle

  • Plantarflexion: Downward movement of foot/ankle

  • Inversion: Foot rolls inward

  • Eversion: Foot rolls outward

  • Protraction: Movement towards anterior (in transverse plane)

  • Retraction: Movement towards posterior (in transverse plane)

  • Opposition: Finger touching thumb

  • Reposition: Finger returns to anatomical position

  • Circumduction: 360 degree movement

  • Practical connections: These actions describe how joints move in different planes and directions, underpinning everyday activities (e.g., walking, grasping, speaking) and clinical assessment of range of motion.