Planes and Positions

  • Anatomical Position: the body is upright, directly facing the observer, feet flat and directed forward. The upper limbs are at the body’s sides with the palms facing forward.

  • Prone Position: the body is lying face down

  • Directional terms: words used to describe the position of one body relative to another.

    • Anterior View: at or near the front of the body

    • Posterior View: At or near the back of the body

  • Midline: the imaginary line that divides the body into right and left halves

    • Medial: Nearer to midline

    • Lateral: Away from the midline

  • Superior View: Situated toward the head or upper region.

  • Inferior View: Situated near the feet; lower part of the structure

  • Deep: Away from the surface of the body

  • Superficial: Close to the surface of the body

  • Distal: Farther from the origination of a structure

  • Proximal: nearer to the origination of a structure.

  • Planes: imaginary flat surfaces that pass through the body

    • Frontal (coronal) Plane: Divides the body and back portions.

    • Transverse plane: divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions.

    • Oblique plane: passes through a structure or the entire body at an angle.

    • Sagittal Plane: Divides a structure or the body vertically into right or left portions.

    • Midsagittal: Divides the body vertically into equal right and left sides.

    • Parasagittal: Divides the body vertically into unequal right and left sides

    • Oblique: Passes through the body at an angle.