Anatomy Terminology Lesson

• The Head

• The Neck

• The Trunk

• The upper limbs

• The lower limbs

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The Body is divided into different regions:

When using anatomical terms we refer to a body in the anatomical position. The subject stands upright, facing observer, head is level and eyes facing forward. Feet are flat and the palms face forward.

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Anatomical Position

• sagittal plane: the plane that divides the body or an organ vertically into right and left sides. If this vertical plane runs directly down the middle of the body, it is called the midsagittal or median plane.

•  frontal plane: the plane that divides the body or an organ into an anterior (front) portion and a posterior (rear) portion. The frontal plane is often referred to as a coronal plane.

• transverse plane: the plane that divides the body or organ horizontally into upper and lower portions. Transverse planes produce images referred to as cross sections.

Body Planes

• Superior: Toward the head, or the upper part of a body.

• Inferior: Away from the head, or the lower part of a body.

• Anterior: Nearer to or at the front of the body.

• Posterior: Nearer to or at the back of the body.

• Medial: Nearer to the midline.

• Lateral: Farther from the midline.

• Proximal: Nearer to the attachment of a limb to the trunk.

• Distal: Farther from the attachment of a limb to the trunk.

The body is further divided into sub-cavities:

• ​Cranial cavity

• Dorsal Body Cavity (posterior)

• Ventral Body Cavity (anterior)

• Vertebral Cavity

• Thoracic Cavity: lungs and heart

• Abdominal cavity

• Pelvic Cavity

Body Cavities