ANATOMICAL TERMINOLOGY

ANATOMICAL POSITIONArms down by

sidePalms upHead and eyes

forwardLegs parallel,

feet together

CORONAL/SAGITTAL/TRANSVERSE PLANES

Coronal Plane (Frontal Plane)

Sagittal Plane (Lateral Plane)

Transverse Plane (Axial Plane)

CORONAL PLANE aka Frontal Plane Vertical plane

running from side to side

Divides the body or any of its parts into anterior and posterior portions

SAGITTAL PLANE aka Lateral Plane vertical plane

running from front to back

Divides the body or any of its parts into right and left sides

TRANSVERSE PLANE aka Axial Plane Horizontal plane Divides the body or

any of its parts into upper and lower parts

ANTERIOR/POSTERIOR Anterior—to be

situated near or toward the front of the body

Posterior--to be situated toward the back of the body

SUPERIOR/INFERIORCRANIAL/CAUDAL

Superior—means to be situated toward the upper part or head of the body, positioned above another organ or structure

Inferior—to be situated toward the lower part of the body or positioned below another organ or structure

Cranial—refers to the head end Caudal—refers to the tail end

SUPERIOR/INFERIORCRANIAL/CAUDAL

MEDIAL/LATERAL Medial—to be closer

to the midline of the body or a structure, being internal as opposed to external

Lateral—to be farther away, in the direction of either side, from the midline of the body or a structure

PROXIMAL/DISTAL Proximal: Toward or

nearest the trunk or the point of origin of a part

Distal: Away from or farthest from the trunk or the point of origin of a part

AVASCULAR Without blood

circulation

ECTOPIC Occurring in an

abnormal position or place

UNILATERAL/BILATERAL Unilateral—on one side Bilateral—on both sides

ACUTE/CHRONIC Acute—symptoms appear and change/worsen

rapidly (heart attack) Chronic—develops and worsens over an extended

period of time (atherosclerosis)

IPSILATERAL/CONTRALATERAL Ipsilateral—on the same side as another structure

i.e. the left arm is ipsilateral to the left leg. Contralateral—on the opposite from another

structure i.e. the left arm is contralateral to the right arm, or

the right leg.

SUPERFICIAL/INTERMEDIATE/DEEP Superficial—near the outer surface of the

body i.e. skin is superficial to the muscle layer

Intermediate—between two other structures i.e. the naval is intermediate to (or

intermediate between) the left arm and the contralateral (right) leg.

Deep—further away from the surface of the body i.e. the muscular layer is deep to the skin, but

superficial to the intestines.

BODY CAVITIES Thoracic Cavity Abdominal and Pelvic

Cavity Dorsal Cavity

THORACIC CAVITY Upper ventral, thoracic or chest cavity

Contains: Heart Lungs Trachea Esophagus Large blood vessels Nerves

Bound laterally by ribs and the diaphragm caudally

ABDOMINOPELVIC CAVITY

Lower part of ventral cavity

Abdominal: Gastrointestinal tract Kidneys Adrenal glands

Pelvic: Urogenital system Rectum

DORSAL CAVITY Smaller of two main

cavities Upper portion:

Cranial cavity Brain

Lower portion: Vertebral canal

contains the spinal cord

FLEXION/EXTENSION

ABDUCTION/ADDUCTION Abduction—moving a body part away from

midline Adduction—moving a body part toward the

midline

ABDUCTION/ADDUCTION

INTERNAL/EXTERNAL ROTATION Internal rotation—

rotation towards the center of the body aka medial rotation

External rotation—rotation away the center of the body aka lateral rotation

INTERNAL/EXTERNAL ROTATION

HIP INTERNAL ROTATION

HAND: DORSAL/PLAMAR

FOOT: DORSAL/PLANTAR

SUPINATION/PRONATION

PLANTAR FLEXION/DORSIFLEXION

ELEVATION/DEPRESSION

INVERSION/EVERSION

SUPERFICIAL/INTERMEDIATE/DEEP

REVIEW Anatomic planes/position Distal Proximal Medial Lateral Superior Inferior Cranial Caudal Anterior Posterior

Acute Chronic Pronation Supination Inversion Eversion Varus Valgus Avascular Ectopic