Anatomical Terminology Flashcards
What are the five (5) regions of the body?
- Head (Cephalic).
- Neck (Cervical).
- Trunk.
- Upper Limb.
- Lower Limb.
What does proximal mean?
Situated nearer the trunk of the body or the point of attachment.
Example: the knee is proximal to the toes.
What does distal mean?
Situated farther from the trunk of the body or the point of attachment.
Example: the toes are distal to the knee.
What does anterior mean?
Situated nearer to the front of the body.
Example: the kneecaps are on the anterior part of the body.
What does posterior mean?
Situated nearer the back of the body.
Example: the shoulder blades are located on the posterior side of the body.
What does medial mean?
Situated closer to the midline of the body.
Example: the chest is medial to the arm.
What does lateral mean?
Situated farther from the midline of the body.
Example: the ears are lateral to the nose.
What does superior mean?
Situated closer to the head or above something else on the body.
Example: the clavicles are superior to the heart.
What does inferior mean?
Situated closer to the feet or below another structure in the body.
Example: the calves are inferior to the knees.
What is a transverse plane?
A transverse plane is parallel to the ground, separating superior from inferior structures.
What is a Sagittal plane?
A plane that divides body structures into right and left sections.
Mid-sagittal plane: down the centre or midline and dividing the body into “equal” parts.
Para-sagittal plane: away from the centre or midline and dividing the body into unequal parts.
What is a coronal (frontal) plane?
A plane that passes through the body, separating anterior (ventral) and posterior (dorsal) structures.
What is an oblique plane?
Any plane that is not horizontal or vertical.
