Language of Anatomy

Reference & direction Structures located &

identified Minimum words & great

clarity.

Anatomical Position Universal or anatomical position

Body Orientation & Direction(depends on anatomical position)

Superior/Inferior Above/below

Anterior/Posterior Front/back

Body Orientation & Direction

Medial/Lateral Toward /away from

midline

Dorsal/Ventral Spinal-side/belly-side

Body Orientation & Direction

Superficial/Deep Toward body /away from

body surface

Cephalic (cranial)/Caudal Toward head/toward tail

Body Orientation & Direction

Proximal / Distal -Nearer farther from

attachment; -Closer to or farther from

head of internal tubular organs.

Biped Directional Terms

caudal

Cephalic(cranial)

Body Planes & Sections

Sections by cut along imaginary surface or line called a plane.

Body Planes & Sections

Sagittal (longitudinal) plane Vertical right & left

Median/midsagittal right & left equal

Parasagittal right & left unequal

Body Planes & Sections

Frontal (coronal) Vertical • front(anterior) & rear(posterior)

Body Planes & Sections

Transverse (cross section) Horizontal • top(superior) & bottom(inferior)

Body Planes

Transverse, Sagittal, Coronal

Body Cavities

Dorsal SurfaceCranialVertebral/Spinal

Body Cavities

VentralSinus – mucus, olfactory

Buccal-tongue, teeth

Thoracic (superior to diaphragm)

Pericardial – heart Pleural - lungs

Abdominopelvic (inferior to diaphragm)

Abdominal stomach, intestines, liver

Pelvic reproductive, bladder, rectum

Body Cavities

Body Quadrants/Organs

Body Systems/Organs

Reference

Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory Manual

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/What-Is-Anatomy-and-Physiology-.topicArticleId-277792,articleId-277504.html

http://vanat.cvm.umn.edu/planar/