Anatomical Position and Directional Terms Anatomical Positions n

Anatomical Position and Directional Terms

Anatomical Positions n Anatomical position is: n standing erect facing forward, n head level and eyes facing forward, n feet flat on the floor and directed forward, n arms are at the sides of the body with palms turned forward.

Planes of Reference Frontal plane: vertical plane that divides the body into an anterior/ventral or posterior/dorsal portions. n Sagittal plane: vertical plane that divides the body or organ into right and left sides (midsagittal or median plane is down the middle of the body creating equal parts) n Transverse plane: divides the body into superior (upper) or inferior (lower) portions. n

Directional Terms n n n Superior/Cranial: toward the upper part/head Inferior/Caudal: away from the head/lower part Anterior/ventral: nearer to or at front of body; stomach side Posterior/dorsal: nearer to or at the back of body; dorsal fin side Medial: nearer to midline Lateral: farther away from midline

Directional Terms Cont. n Proximal: nearer to attachment of limb to trunk, nearer to origin n Distal: farther away from attachment of limb to trunk, farther away from origin n Superficial: toward or on surface of body n Deep: away from surface of body

Try these… n The heart is _______ to liver n The stomach is ____ to lungs. n The sternum (breastbone) is ______ to the spinal column. n The esophagus is ____ to trachea (windpipe).

Try these… n The stomach side of a dog is called ____. n The ______ fin is located on the fish’s back. n The ______ fin is also known as the tail fin. n The head is ______ to the tail.