Body Planes and Directional Terms Flashcards
What are body planes and directional terms?
Body planes are imaginary planes that intersect the body, creating slices of inner body structures at different levels. Directional terms are used to describe the position and relation between various structures.
What is the anatomical position?
The anatomical position is a standard reference point for anatomical terms. In this orientation, the person is considered to be standing upright, with the head looking straight ahead. The arms are hanging at the sides, the palms facing forward, and the thumbs pointing away from the body. The feet are slightly parallel, and the toes oriented to the front.
Body planes
- Coronal (frontal)
- Sagittal (lateral)
- Transverse (axial)
- Median (mid-sagittal)
Coronal (frontal)
Vertical plane dividing the body into anterior and posterior
Sagittal (lateral)
Vertice plane dividing the body into left and right
Transverse (axial)
Horizontal plane dividing the body into superior and inferior
Median (mid-sagittal)
Mid-line of the body
Directional terms
- Anterior / Posterior
- Ventral / Dorsal
- Proximal / Distal
- Medial or Ulnar / Lateral or Radial
- Superior or Cranial / Inferior or Caudal
- External or Superficial / Internal or Deep
- Central / Peripheral
- Frontal / Occipital
- Rostral
- Palmar
- Plantar
Anterior
In front of or front
Posterior
In behind of or behind
Ventral
Towards the front of the body
Dorsal
Towards the back of the body
Proximal
Closer or towards the trunk or the point of origin of the body part
Distal
Away or farthest away from the trunk or the point of origin of the body part
Medial or Ulnar
Towards the median
