Anatomical Terminology

Anatomical Position
A benchmark position from which we
describe relationships of body parts

Body erect
All joints extended
Arms at side
Palms to the front
Thumbs pointing away
Planes of Movement
Sagittal splits the body into left and right
halves

Frontal splits the body into front and rear
halves

Transverse or horizontal splits the body
into upper and lower halves

Terms of Direction
Anterior
To the front
The nose is anterior to the mouth.


Posterior
To the back
The shoulder blade is posterior
to the chin.


Terms of Direction
Superior
Above, towards the head
The head is superior to the feet

Inferior
Below, towards the feet
The knees are inferior to the
hips
Terms of Direction
Medial
Towards the bodys midline
The Sternum is medial to the
bicep

Lateral
Away from the bodys midline
The Iliac Crest is lateral to the
umbilicus

Terms of Direction
Superficial
Near the body surface
Skin is superficial to bone

Deep
Farther from the body surface
The bone is Deep to the skin.
Terms of Direction
Proximal
Towards an attached base
The thigh is proximal to the foot.

Distal
Away from an attached base
The fingers are distal to the wrist