Anatomy and Physiology
Superior - ANSWERtoward the head end or upper part of a structure or the body; above
Inferior - ANSWERaway from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; below
Ventral (anterior) - ANSWERtoward or at the front of the body; in front of
Dorsal (posterior) - ANSWERToward or at the back of the body; behind
Medial - ANSWERtoward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of
Lateral - ANSWERaway from the midline of the body; on the outer side of
Intermediate - ANSWERbetween a more medial and a more lateral structure
Proximal - ANSWERcloser to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk
Distal - ANSWERfarther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk
Superficial - ANSWERtoward or at the body surface
Deep (internal) - ANSWERaway from the body surface; more internal
Anatomical Position - ANSWERerect, feet forward, arms at side with palms facing forward, head facing
forward, internationally know
Directional Terms - ANSWERallow us to explain where one body structure is in relation to another
, Axial - ANSWERfundamental division of our body. Makes up the main axis of our body, includes the head,
neck, and trunk.
Appendicular - ANSWERfundamental division of our body. relating to the limbs and their attachments to the
axis.
Regional Terms - ANSWERused to designate specific areas within major body divisions
Anterior/Ventral Body - ANSWER
Posterior/Dorsal Body - ANSWER
Sagittal - ANSWERa vertical plane that divides the body into right and left parts
Median Plane (midsagittal plane) - ANSWERsagittal plane that lies exactly in the midline
Parasagittal Planes - ANSWERall other sagittal planes offset from the midline
Frontal Planes (Coronal Plane) - ANSWERlike sagittal plane lie vertically, divide body into anterior and
posterior parts
Transverse/Horizontal Plane - ANSWERruns horizontally from right to left, dividing the body into superior and
inferior parts. (Transverse is perpendicular to long axis of an organ, horizontal is from front to back)
Oblique Sections - ANSWERcuts made diagonally between the horizontal and the vertical planes
Dorsal Body Cavity - ANSWERprotects the fragile nervous system organs, has 2 subdivisions
Cranial Cavity - ANSWERin the skull, encases the brain
Vertebral Cavity (Spinal Cavity) - ANSWERruns within the bony vertebral column, encloses the delicate spinal
cord
Superior - ANSWERtoward the head end or upper part of a structure or the body; above
Inferior - ANSWERaway from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; below
Ventral (anterior) - ANSWERtoward or at the front of the body; in front of
Dorsal (posterior) - ANSWERToward or at the back of the body; behind
Medial - ANSWERtoward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of
Lateral - ANSWERaway from the midline of the body; on the outer side of
Intermediate - ANSWERbetween a more medial and a more lateral structure
Proximal - ANSWERcloser to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk
Distal - ANSWERfarther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk
Superficial - ANSWERtoward or at the body surface
Deep (internal) - ANSWERaway from the body surface; more internal
Anatomical Position - ANSWERerect, feet forward, arms at side with palms facing forward, head facing
forward, internationally know
Directional Terms - ANSWERallow us to explain where one body structure is in relation to another
, Axial - ANSWERfundamental division of our body. Makes up the main axis of our body, includes the head,
neck, and trunk.
Appendicular - ANSWERfundamental division of our body. relating to the limbs and their attachments to the
axis.
Regional Terms - ANSWERused to designate specific areas within major body divisions
Anterior/Ventral Body - ANSWER
Posterior/Dorsal Body - ANSWER
Sagittal - ANSWERa vertical plane that divides the body into right and left parts
Median Plane (midsagittal plane) - ANSWERsagittal plane that lies exactly in the midline
Parasagittal Planes - ANSWERall other sagittal planes offset from the midline
Frontal Planes (Coronal Plane) - ANSWERlike sagittal plane lie vertically, divide body into anterior and
posterior parts
Transverse/Horizontal Plane - ANSWERruns horizontally from right to left, dividing the body into superior and
inferior parts. (Transverse is perpendicular to long axis of an organ, horizontal is from front to back)
Oblique Sections - ANSWERcuts made diagonally between the horizontal and the vertical planes
Dorsal Body Cavity - ANSWERprotects the fragile nervous system organs, has 2 subdivisions
Cranial Cavity - ANSWERin the skull, encases the brain
Vertebral Cavity (Spinal Cavity) - ANSWERruns within the bony vertebral column, encloses the delicate spinal
cord
