Basic Anatomical Terms

Objectives

• describe three basic positions for the human body, including standard anatomical position

• describe three basic views or aspects for looking at the human body

• begin to use four pairs of basic anatomical terms to describe locations and relationships

• begin to use the correct anatomical terms for different body regions

• describe three anatomical planes used to divide the body into sections for imaging deeper structures

Positions

standard anatomical position: face forward, palms of the hands forward, feet face forward

supine: lying on your back, face upward

prone: lying on your stomach, face downward

Perspectives

anterior aspect: viewing from the front

posterior aspect: viewing from the back

lateral aspect: viewing from the side

superficial: closer to body surface

deep: further to body surface

Distances

superior: closer to the head

inferior: closer to the feet

medial: closer to midline

lateral: further from midline

proximal: closer to heart

distal: further from heart

Planes

sagittal plane: divides into left and right

coronal plane: divides into anterior and posterior

axial plane: divides body into cross-sections