Notes: Anatomical Position and Directional Terms

Anatomical Position

Standing erect Hands at side with

palms facing forward

Feet together

Supine position = lying down, face up

Prone position = lying down, face down

Directional Terms 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.

Proximal: nearer to attachment of limb to trunk, nearer to origin

Distal: farther away from attachment of limb to trunk, farther away from origin

Superficial: toward or on surface of body

Deep: away from surface of body

Try these…

The heart is _______ to the liver The stomach is ________ to the head. The sternum (breastbone) is ______ to

the spinal column. The esophagus is ________ to

stomach. The skin ________ the blood vessels. The fingers are ________ to the elbow.

Planes of Reference Frontal plane: vertical plane, divides

the body into an anterior/ventral or posterior/dorsal portions.

Sagittal plane: vertical plane, divides the body or organ into right and left sides

Transverse plane: divides the body into superior or inferior portions.