Human Anatomy 124
ANATOMY TERMINOLOGY
Organ systems in the human body
1. Integumentary system
2. Skeletal system
3. Muscular system
4. Nervous system
5. Endocrine system
6. Cardiovascular system
7. Lymphatic system
8. Respiratory system
9. Urinary system
10. Reproductive system
Anatomy: shape/form and structure (morphology) of the body & relationship of one body
part to another
Physiology: function of the structures/organs and how the function of body parts coordinate
to form a living organism
Anatomists: rely on observations (structure of body part)
Physiologists: employ experimentation to observe functions (function of body part)
Functional (physiology) role depends on how it is constructed/shape (anatomy)
Microscopic anatomy/histology: structures seen without magnification (cells/tissue)
Macroscopic anatomy/gross anatomy: structures seen by naked eye (cadaver/organ)
Regional anatomy: study per region i.e. thorax (thoracic region)
Systematic anatomy: study by organ system (cardiovascular system)
Surface anatomy: visualise structures, bony landmarks and dermatomes (area of skin
supplied by a specific nerve)
Surgical anatomy: specific route of structures to pass to get to another structure for surgery
Paediatric anatomy: children (not a small adult) anatomy different to adults
Radiographic anatomy: diagnostic (effects of trauma, pathology, MRI CT X-ray scans)
Anatomical position - orientation, accurate effective communication, no extra explanations
▪ Standing upright, supine or prone
▪ Head, eyes, toes directed anteriorly (facing front/forward)
▪ Upper limbs sides of body (down along the body)
▪ Palms facing anteriorly: palm face up/facing front of the body
o Radius bone in forearm on lateral/outside of body as radius is on thumb side
▪ Lower limbs together
▪ Feet parallel and directed anteriorly (dorsum towards superior)
Body supine: face up on dorsal side (posterior/back); lying facing upright head looking up;
toes flexed upwards; arms along the side with palms facing upwards; leaning forward
, Human Anatomy 124
Body prone: face down on ventral side (anterior/front); lying facing downwards head to the
side; feet flat with soles upwards; arms along the side with palms facing upwards; leaning
backwards
Anatomical planes
▪ Coronal/frontal plane: vertical plane passing down body parallel to coronal suture of
skull dividing into anterior (forward half) and posterior (back half)
o Plane running from left to right and moving down the body from the coronal
suture = front and back half
▪ Sagittal/parasagittal/midsagittal/lateral plane: vertical section through body dividing
into left and right portion
o Plane running from front to back and moving down the body = left and right
Parasagittal plane: plane parallel to midline/midsagittal of body. NOT MIDLINE
Midsagittal plane: plane passes through midline of the body (same as median plane)
Sagittal plane: plane not through midline
▪ Median plane: longitudinal section through midline of body dividing into equal left
and right halves (also median sagittal or midsagittal plane)
▪ Transverse/horizontal/axial plane: plane passes through body at perpendicular to
median & coronal planes in anatomical position dividing into superior (towards head)
a top and inferior (towards feet) a bottom half
o Axial plane is through the brain
Sagittal plane = vertical plane from front to back of any part of the body or any body part
and longitudinally down splitting into left and right half i.e. through arm (NO midline)
Median plane = longitudinal/vertical plane/cut running through midline of body from one
point through to the other point dividing into equal left and right portions (midsagittal =
ALWAYS THROUGH midline)
▪ Frankfort horizontal planes: standard craniometric reference plane on cranium in
exact positions aligned horizontally, skull orientated so inferior margin of eye orbit &
superior margin of auditory canal/external acoustic meatus is in same plane
o Used for measurements
o Head in cone beam CT scanner to scan maxillofacial area
o Head/chin tilted so that eye’s orbit bottom inferior margin in line with ear’s
opening/auditory canal’s superior margin (straight line with head straight)
, Human Anatomy 124
Anatomical sections
▪ Longitudinal section: parallel to the long axis/along axis of body/organ (down)
▪ Transverse/cross section: perpendicular to longitudinal axis of body (across)
▪ Oblique section: cut at a slanted angle (not horizontal/perpendicular or vertical)
Anatomical axis
▪ Cranio-caudal axis: from the head to the tail/feet; top to bottom
▪ Left/right axis or transverse axial plane: both sides from the midline to left and right
▪ Anteroposterior/dorsoventral axis: both sides from midline to front and back
Anatomical terminology
▪ Superior: one part above another TOWARDS upper/head (shoulder superior from pelvis)
▪ Inferior: one part below another TOWARDS lower/feet; below caudal (dog’s belly)
▪ Proximal: part of body closer to the trunk/origin/attachment (upper arm/shoulder is
proximal as it is closer to attachment point than hand; proximal point of rib)
▪ Distal: part of body further away from the trunk/origin of body part (fingertips/toes)
▪ Medial: towards midline/median plane; inner side (belly button medial to arm)
▪ Lateral: away from midline/towards outer side
▪ Unilateral: structure only on one side (liver)
▪ Bilateral: structure on either side of body; paired structures (arms)
▪ Ipsilateral: same side of body as another structure (left thumb ipsilateral to left big toe)
▪ Contralateral: opposite side of body relative to another structure (right thumb
contralateral to left big toe; left big toe to right big toe)
▪ Cranial/cephalic: towards head. Caudal: towards tail/feet
▪ Rostral: closer to the front of the head/nose
▪ Anterior/ventral: towards front of; closer to front surface of body (human belly)
▪ Posterior/dorsal: towards back of/behind; closer to back surface of body
▪ Superficial: located near surface; difficult to separate from skin (rib cage out lungs)
▪ Deep/profunda: internal parts; away from the body surface (lungs in rib cage)
▪ Dorsum (dorsal): superior/posterior surface of any part that protrudes anteriorly
from body (dorsum part/upper surface of tongue is superior/to surface of tongue)
▪ Palmar: anterior/ventral/palm of hand. Plantar: anterior/sole of foot [volar]
▪ Dorsum of hand: posterior/back of hand. Dorsum of foot: superior/upper aspect
▪ Dexter: right. Sinister: left
, Human Anatomy 124
Anatomical position terminology/relationships and comparisons
▪ Cranial (cephalic) vs caudal
▪ Anterior vs posterior
▪ Ventral vs dorsal
▪ Superior vs inferior
▪ Medial vs lateral
▪ Superficial vs deep (profunda)
▪ Palmar (palms) vs plantar (bottom foot)
▪ Ipsilateral (same side) vs contralateral (opposite side)
o Left finger is ipsilateral to left arm but contralateral to right arm
▪ Proximal (closer) vs distal (further away)
Locations used in combinations as structures are not related to each other in 1 dimension:
➢ Umbilicus found inferomedial to nipple where the belly button is lower and more
medial than nipple
Nipple lies superolateral to umbilicus/belly button therefore superior, lateral and
away from midline/not medial
➢ Kidneys are bilateral on both sides
➢ Spleen is unilateral on one side only
➢ Right thumb and right big toe are ipsilateral on the same side
➢ Right hand is contralateral to left foot on opposite sides
Structure of terminology
Description - biceps brachii (2 heads/ceps/insertion points long & short in shoulder) and
piriformis (pair shaped along coccyx)
Region - temporalis (temporal region in skull)
Action - levator scapulae (muscle in shoulder that elevates the scapula)
ANATOMY TERMINOLOGY
Organ systems in the human body
1. Integumentary system
2. Skeletal system
3. Muscular system
4. Nervous system
5. Endocrine system
6. Cardiovascular system
7. Lymphatic system
8. Respiratory system
9. Urinary system
10. Reproductive system
Anatomy: shape/form and structure (morphology) of the body & relationship of one body
part to another
Physiology: function of the structures/organs and how the function of body parts coordinate
to form a living organism
Anatomists: rely on observations (structure of body part)
Physiologists: employ experimentation to observe functions (function of body part)
Functional (physiology) role depends on how it is constructed/shape (anatomy)
Microscopic anatomy/histology: structures seen without magnification (cells/tissue)
Macroscopic anatomy/gross anatomy: structures seen by naked eye (cadaver/organ)
Regional anatomy: study per region i.e. thorax (thoracic region)
Systematic anatomy: study by organ system (cardiovascular system)
Surface anatomy: visualise structures, bony landmarks and dermatomes (area of skin
supplied by a specific nerve)
Surgical anatomy: specific route of structures to pass to get to another structure for surgery
Paediatric anatomy: children (not a small adult) anatomy different to adults
Radiographic anatomy: diagnostic (effects of trauma, pathology, MRI CT X-ray scans)
Anatomical position - orientation, accurate effective communication, no extra explanations
▪ Standing upright, supine or prone
▪ Head, eyes, toes directed anteriorly (facing front/forward)
▪ Upper limbs sides of body (down along the body)
▪ Palms facing anteriorly: palm face up/facing front of the body
o Radius bone in forearm on lateral/outside of body as radius is on thumb side
▪ Lower limbs together
▪ Feet parallel and directed anteriorly (dorsum towards superior)
Body supine: face up on dorsal side (posterior/back); lying facing upright head looking up;
toes flexed upwards; arms along the side with palms facing upwards; leaning forward
, Human Anatomy 124
Body prone: face down on ventral side (anterior/front); lying facing downwards head to the
side; feet flat with soles upwards; arms along the side with palms facing upwards; leaning
backwards
Anatomical planes
▪ Coronal/frontal plane: vertical plane passing down body parallel to coronal suture of
skull dividing into anterior (forward half) and posterior (back half)
o Plane running from left to right and moving down the body from the coronal
suture = front and back half
▪ Sagittal/parasagittal/midsagittal/lateral plane: vertical section through body dividing
into left and right portion
o Plane running from front to back and moving down the body = left and right
Parasagittal plane: plane parallel to midline/midsagittal of body. NOT MIDLINE
Midsagittal plane: plane passes through midline of the body (same as median plane)
Sagittal plane: plane not through midline
▪ Median plane: longitudinal section through midline of body dividing into equal left
and right halves (also median sagittal or midsagittal plane)
▪ Transverse/horizontal/axial plane: plane passes through body at perpendicular to
median & coronal planes in anatomical position dividing into superior (towards head)
a top and inferior (towards feet) a bottom half
o Axial plane is through the brain
Sagittal plane = vertical plane from front to back of any part of the body or any body part
and longitudinally down splitting into left and right half i.e. through arm (NO midline)
Median plane = longitudinal/vertical plane/cut running through midline of body from one
point through to the other point dividing into equal left and right portions (midsagittal =
ALWAYS THROUGH midline)
▪ Frankfort horizontal planes: standard craniometric reference plane on cranium in
exact positions aligned horizontally, skull orientated so inferior margin of eye orbit &
superior margin of auditory canal/external acoustic meatus is in same plane
o Used for measurements
o Head in cone beam CT scanner to scan maxillofacial area
o Head/chin tilted so that eye’s orbit bottom inferior margin in line with ear’s
opening/auditory canal’s superior margin (straight line with head straight)
, Human Anatomy 124
Anatomical sections
▪ Longitudinal section: parallel to the long axis/along axis of body/organ (down)
▪ Transverse/cross section: perpendicular to longitudinal axis of body (across)
▪ Oblique section: cut at a slanted angle (not horizontal/perpendicular or vertical)
Anatomical axis
▪ Cranio-caudal axis: from the head to the tail/feet; top to bottom
▪ Left/right axis or transverse axial plane: both sides from the midline to left and right
▪ Anteroposterior/dorsoventral axis: both sides from midline to front and back
Anatomical terminology
▪ Superior: one part above another TOWARDS upper/head (shoulder superior from pelvis)
▪ Inferior: one part below another TOWARDS lower/feet; below caudal (dog’s belly)
▪ Proximal: part of body closer to the trunk/origin/attachment (upper arm/shoulder is
proximal as it is closer to attachment point than hand; proximal point of rib)
▪ Distal: part of body further away from the trunk/origin of body part (fingertips/toes)
▪ Medial: towards midline/median plane; inner side (belly button medial to arm)
▪ Lateral: away from midline/towards outer side
▪ Unilateral: structure only on one side (liver)
▪ Bilateral: structure on either side of body; paired structures (arms)
▪ Ipsilateral: same side of body as another structure (left thumb ipsilateral to left big toe)
▪ Contralateral: opposite side of body relative to another structure (right thumb
contralateral to left big toe; left big toe to right big toe)
▪ Cranial/cephalic: towards head. Caudal: towards tail/feet
▪ Rostral: closer to the front of the head/nose
▪ Anterior/ventral: towards front of; closer to front surface of body (human belly)
▪ Posterior/dorsal: towards back of/behind; closer to back surface of body
▪ Superficial: located near surface; difficult to separate from skin (rib cage out lungs)
▪ Deep/profunda: internal parts; away from the body surface (lungs in rib cage)
▪ Dorsum (dorsal): superior/posterior surface of any part that protrudes anteriorly
from body (dorsum part/upper surface of tongue is superior/to surface of tongue)
▪ Palmar: anterior/ventral/palm of hand. Plantar: anterior/sole of foot [volar]
▪ Dorsum of hand: posterior/back of hand. Dorsum of foot: superior/upper aspect
▪ Dexter: right. Sinister: left
, Human Anatomy 124
Anatomical position terminology/relationships and comparisons
▪ Cranial (cephalic) vs caudal
▪ Anterior vs posterior
▪ Ventral vs dorsal
▪ Superior vs inferior
▪ Medial vs lateral
▪ Superficial vs deep (profunda)
▪ Palmar (palms) vs plantar (bottom foot)
▪ Ipsilateral (same side) vs contralateral (opposite side)
o Left finger is ipsilateral to left arm but contralateral to right arm
▪ Proximal (closer) vs distal (further away)
Locations used in combinations as structures are not related to each other in 1 dimension:
➢ Umbilicus found inferomedial to nipple where the belly button is lower and more
medial than nipple
Nipple lies superolateral to umbilicus/belly button therefore superior, lateral and
away from midline/not medial
➢ Kidneys are bilateral on both sides
➢ Spleen is unilateral on one side only
➢ Right thumb and right big toe are ipsilateral on the same side
➢ Right hand is contralateral to left foot on opposite sides
Structure of terminology
Description - biceps brachii (2 heads/ceps/insertion points long & short in shoulder) and
piriformis (pair shaped along coccyx)
Region - temporalis (temporal region in skull)
Action - levator scapulae (muscle in shoulder that elevates the scapula)
