Menu Close

What are the anatomical direction terms?

What are the anatomical direction terms?

Directional Terms Inferior or caudal – away from the head; lower (example, the foot is part of the inferior extremity). Anterior or ventral – front (example, the kneecap is located on the anterior side of the leg). Posterior or dorsal – back (example, the shoulder blades are located on the posterior side of the body).

What are the 4 anatomical positions?

Anatomic Positions

  • Anterior: Front, or toward the front.
  • Posterior: Back, or toward the back.
  • Dorsal: Back, or toward the back (think of a whale’s dorsal fin)
  • Ventral: Front, or toward the front (think of an air vent)
  • Lateral: On the side, or toward the side.
  • Medial/median: Middle, or toward the middle.

What are the 7 directional terms used in anatomy?

Highlights

  • Directional Terms. Anterior & Posterior. Ventral & Dorsal. Right & Left. Distal & Proximal. Median. Medial & Lateral. Superior & Inferior. External & Internal. Frontal & Occipital.
  • Body Planes. Coronal. Sagittal. Transverse.

What are anatomical directional terms and body planes?

Anatomical directional terms and body planes describe the locations of structures in relation to other structures or locations in the body. Anatomical directional terms and body planes describe the locations of structures in relation to other structures or locations in the body. Menu Home Anatomical Directional Terms and Body Planes Search

What does the next directional pair mean in anatomy?

The next directional pair refers to the position of a structure relative to the body’s surface. These are easy to remember because they are common words that we all use. Superficial (or external) means nearest to the surface (or outside) of the body.

Which is the correct anatomical position of the body?

Anatomical Position To further increase precision, anatomists standardize the way in which they view the body. Just as maps are normally oriented with north at the top, the standard body “map,” or anatomical position, is that of the body standing upright, with the feet at shoulder width and parallel, toes forward.

Which is the best description of anatomical orientation?

Each term is used to orient a first structure or feature with respect to the position of a second structure or feature. Superior/Inferior –Equivalent to above and below when moving along the long axis of a body in anatomical position. The structure that is superior to another is above the second structure when the body is in anatomical position.