Directional Terms

Lecture 02

Body Location MeaningVentral or Anterior At or near the front

surface of the body or its parts

Dorsal or posterior At or near the back surface of the body or its parts

Lateral At or near the side surface of the body or its parts

Anatomical Directions

Body Location MeaningMedial At or toward the

midline of the bodyCentral Toward the center of

the bodyPeripheral Away from the center

of the bodyProximal Nearest to the point of

attachmentDistal Furthest from the

point of attachmentCavity A hollow part or space

in a structure

Body Location MeaningExternal The outside or outer

part of a structureInternal The inside or inner

part of a structurePalmar Concerning the palm

of the handInferior BeneathSuperior Over or aboveCaudal Away from the head,

toward the tail, inferior portion of the body

Cranial Pertaining to the skull

Body Planes

• Midsagittal– Divides body into equal right and left portions

• Midline of the body– Medial– Lateral

Body Planes…

Body Planes…

• Frontal or Coronal– Divides body into front and back portions

Body Planes…

Body Planes…

• Transverse– Cuts across body– Superior (Cranial, Cephalic)– Inferior (Caudal)

Body Planes…

Body Regions

• Nine abdominal regions– Identified from left to right– Move from top to bottom– One row at a time

Body Regions…

Abdominal Quadrants

• Landmark = umbilicus (navel)• Quadrants

– RUQ, – LUQ,– RLQ,– LLQ

Abdominal Quadrants…

Body Cavities

• Dorsal Cavity– Cranial– Spinal• Ventral Cavity– Thoracic – Abdominal – Pelvic

Body Cavities…

Divisions of the Back

•Cervical Vertebrae (C1 – C7)•Thoracic Vertebrae (T1 – T12)

•Lumbar Vertebrae (L1 – L5)•Sacrum•Coccyx

Divisions of the Back…

Directional Terms

• Superficial vs. Deep• Anterior vs. Posterior• Ventral vs. Dorsal• Superior vs. Inferior• Cranial vs. Caudal

Terms of Direction

Terms of Direction

• Medial vs. Lateral• Distal vs. Proximal• Supine vs. Prone• Supination vs. Pronation• Plantar vs. Dorsum

Terms of Direction

Figure 1.1

Levels of Structural Organization

Thank You