Anatomical directional terms. A directional language of anatomy
exists in order to minimize confusion when discussing areas or
specific points on the body. This directional language
or terminology is used in reference to the
anatomical position. The anatomical position is
when a person stands erect, face pointing forward,
arms at the sides, palms facing forward and feet
also pointing forward. If everyone is looking at the
body in the exact same position, there will be less confusion when
discussing anything related to anatomy. We are going to start with
superior and inferior. Superior means toward the head, but
it can also mean upper or above. Inferior means toward the feet, but
it can also mean lower or below. So we would say the heart is located
superior to the small intestine, or we could say the small intestine
is located inferior to the heart. Next is anterior and posterior. Anterior means further to
the front, or in front of. Posterior means further to
the back, or in back of. So, we would say the sternum
is anteriorto the heart, and the heart is posterior to the sternum. Sometimes the terms ventral and dorsal are
used in place of anterior and posterior, where ventral means anterior
and dorsal means posterior. Anterior and posterior can also be used to
describe how you are looking at the body. While the body will always be referenced
from the anatomical position, it can be viewed from an anterior view,
meaning looking at the body from the front, and it can be viewed from the posterior
view, meaning looking at it from the back. Medial and lateral are another
set of directional terms. Medial means toward the
midline of the body, and lateral means toward the side of the
body, or away from the midline of the body. Where the midline is
an imaginary line that divides the body into
left and right halves. So, we would say that the heart
lies medial to the lungs, or you could say that the lungs
lie lateral to the heart. Lateral can also be used to describe
how you are looking at the body. While the body will always be referenced
from the anatomical position, it can be viewed from a lateral view,
meaning looking at the body from the side. Next is proximal and distal. Proximal and distal are
terms that are usually used when describing parts of
the appendicular body. Remember that the axial body consists
of the head, neck and trunk, and the appendicular body
consists of the limbs or appendages that are
added to the axial body. Proximal means closer to the axial
body, or toward the trunk of the body and distal means further
from the axial body, or further from the trunk of the body. So, we would say the thigh
is proximal to the foot, or you could say the foot
is distal to the thigh. Superficial and deep are another
set of directional terms. Superficial means closer to
the surface of the body, and deep means further away from
the surface of the body. So, we would say the sternum
is superficial to the lungs, or the lungs are deep to the sternum. Remember this is the
case when we are looking at the body from the
front or anterior view, when it is in the anatomical position. And that, be the anatomical
directional terms.