Overview
This lecture covers the anatomical position, common directional terms, key anatomical regions, and the major body planes essential for describing human anatomy.
Anatomical Position
- Body is standing erect, facing forward.
- Arms are at the sides with palms facing forward.
- Feet are slightly apart.
Directional Terms
- Superior means toward the top; opposite is inferior.
- Anterior means toward the front; opposite is posterior.
- Cephalad means toward the head; opposite is caudal.
- Ventral refers to the belly side; opposite is dorsal.
- Medial means toward the middle; opposite is lateral.
- Proximal means closest to the point of attachment; opposite is distal (used only for limbs).
- Superficial means closest to the surface; opposite is deep.
Examples Using Directional Terms
- The nose is superior to the mouth.
- The ears are lateral to the nose.
- Bones are deep to the muscles.
- The right lung is lateral to the heart.
- The kidneys are posterior to the liver.
- The spinal cord is posterior to the esophagus.
- The knee is proximal to the foot.
Anatomical Regions
- Cephalon/cephalic: head.
- Cranium/cranial: skull.
- Facies/facial: face.
- Cervices/cervical: neck.
- Costal: ribs.
- Axilla/axillary: armpits.
- Brachium/brachial: upper arms.
- Antebrachium/antebrachial: forearm.
- Manus/manual: hand.
- Femur/femoral: thigh.
- Crus/crural: leg.
- Ped/pedal: foot.
Body Planes
- Sagittal: divides body into right and left.
- Parasagittal: divides body into unequal right and left.
- Midsagittal: divides body into equal right and left halves.
- Transverse: divides body into top and bottom.
- Oblique: divides body into top and bottom at an angle.
- Frontal (coronal): divides body into front and back.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Superior β toward the top
- Inferior β toward the bottom
- Anterior β toward the front
- Posterior β toward the back
- Cephalad β toward the head
- Caudal β toward the tail/lower end
- Ventral β belly side
- Dorsal β back side
- Medial β toward the midline
- Lateral β away from the midline
- Proximal β closest to point of limb attachment
- Distal β farthest from point of limb attachment
- Superficial β near the surface
- Deep β further from the surface
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review and memorize the definitions of directional terms and anatomical regions.
- Practice identifying body planes on diagrams.
- Complete any assigned reading on anatomical terminology.