Anatomical terms Flashcards
What is the anatomical position?
Body is erect, feet slightly apart, palms facing forward (supinated), thumbs away from the body.
What is the sagittal plane?
This divides the body vertically into left and right parts.
What is the coronal plane?
This divides the body vertically into anterior and posterior parts.
What is the transverse plane?
This divides the body horizontally into superior and inferior parts.
What is the oblique anatomical plane?
These are cuts made diagonally (not parallel or perpendicular) and have no fixed orientation.
Meaning of superior?
Towards the head end (above)
Head superior to abdomen.
Meaning of inferior?
Away from the head (below)
Naval inferior to chin.
Meaning of anterior?
Towards the front of the body
Breastbone anterior to spine.
Meaning of posterior?
Towards the back of the body
Head posterior to breastbone.
Meaning of medial?
Towards the midline of the body
Heart medial to arm.
Meaning of lateral?
Away from the midline of the body
Arms lateral to chest.
Meaning of Intermediate?
Between a medial and lateral structure
Collarbone intermediate between breastbone and shoulder.
Meaning of proximal?
Closer to origin of body part/ point of attachment
Elbow proximal to wrist.
Meaning of distal?
Further from point of origin of body part/ point of attachment
Knees distal to thigh.
Meaning of superficial?
Towards or at body surface
Skin superficial to skeletal muscles.
