Anatomical DirectionsAnatomical Directions

Anatomy and Physiology 1Anatomy and Physiology 1

Mr. BeyerMr. Beyer

Anatomical PositionAnatomical Position

The body standing upright facing The body standing upright facing forward, toes pointing forward, palms forward, toes pointing forward, palms facing forwardfacing forward

The body could also be in this The body could also be in this position laying supine (on its position laying supine (on its posterior surface)posterior surface)

Anatomical PositionAnatomical Position

Superior and InferiorSuperior and Inferior

Describes vertical relationship between Describes vertical relationship between structures.structures.

SuperiorSuperior- “above” - “above” Example: Your eyes are superior to your Example: Your eyes are superior to your nosenose

InferiorInferior “below” “below”Example: Your shin is inferior to your kneeExample: Your shin is inferior to your knee

Superior and InferiorSuperior and Inferior

Lateral and MedialLateral and Medial

Describes structures that are beside each Describes structures that are beside each other as in left or rightother as in left or right

LateraLateral-means toward the outside of the l-means toward the outside of the body away from the median planebody away from the median planeExample: The right ear is lateral to the Example: The right ear is lateral to the

right eye right eye

MedialMedial-means toward the inside of the body -means toward the inside of the body toward the median planetoward the median planeExample: The nose is medial to the right Example: The nose is medial to the right eyeeye

Lateral and MedialLateral and Medial

Anterior and PosteriorAnterior and PosteriorVentral and Dorsal Ventral and Dorsal

Directions that describe body parts that are Directions that describe body parts that are described as being in front of or behind each described as being in front of or behind each otherother

Anterior/VentralAnterior/Ventral:: Toward the front of the body Toward the front of the bodyExample: your nose is anterior to your brainExample: your nose is anterior to your brain

Posterior/DorsalPosterior/Dorsal:: Toward the back of the body Toward the back of the bodyExample: The spine is posterior to sternum Example: The spine is posterior to sternum

(breastbone)(breastbone)

Anterior and PosteriorAnterior and PosteriorVentral and Dorsal Ventral and Dorsal

Superficial and DeepSuperficial and Deep

Describe distance near or far from the surface Describe distance near or far from the surface (depth)(depth)

SuperficialSuperficial:: near the surface near the surfaceExample: The skin is superficial to the muscles Example: The skin is superficial to the muscles

beneath itbeneath it

DeepDeep:: describes something below the surface describes something below the surface or away from the surface of the bodyor away from the surface of the body

Example: The heart is deep to the sternum Example: The heart is deep to the sternum bonebone

Superficial and DeepSuperficial and Deep

Proximal and DistalProximal and Distal Used to describe the relationship of the bones Used to describe the relationship of the bones

of our appendages (that are arranged end to of our appendages (that are arranged end to end)end)

ProximalProximal:: the end of the long bone that is the end of the long bone that is nearest to its attachment to trunk of the body nearest to its attachment to trunk of the body

DistalDistal:: the end of the long bone that is further the end of the long bone that is further from its attachment to the trunk of the bodyfrom its attachment to the trunk of the body

Example: the hand is Example: the hand is distaldistal to the wrist to the wrist Example: the wrist is Example: the wrist is proximalproximal to the hand to the hand

Proximal and DistalProximal and Distal