Anatomical Terminology

Question 1

Describe what it means to be in anatomical position (4).

Answer 1

• standing up
• feet/toes pointing forward
• arms at sides, palms facing forward
• eyes forward (head neutral)

Question 2

What are the 3 orthogonal planes?

Answer 2

Sagittal, coronal, transverse.

Question 3

Describe the sagittal plane.

Answer 3

• cuts the body into left and right halves
• midline: sagittal/median
• off median: parasagittal
• axis through the plane: transverse axis
• moving away from midline: lateral
• moving toward midline: medial

Question 4

Describe the coronal plane.

Answer 4

• frontal plane
• anterior/ventral: front
• posterior/dorsal: back
• axis through plane: sagittal axis
• moving toward back: dorsal/posterior
• moving toward front: ventral/anterior

Question 5

Describe the transverse plane.

Answer 5

• top and bottom halves
• superior/cranial: top
• inferior/caudal: bottom
• moving towards head: superior/cranal
• moving towards feet: inferior/caudal

Question 6

What does it mean to be proximal vs distal? Give an example.

Answer 6

Most used in limbs. Proximal means closer to trunk/origin, distal means further from trunk/origin.
Ex: elbow is distal to the shoulder, elbow is proximal to the wrist

Question 7

What does it mean to be superficial vs deep? Give an example.

Answer 7

Superficial is closer to the skin, deep is further from the skin (closer to the middle).
Ex: femur is deep to rectus femoris