Standard anatomical position, planes, and directional terminology used across anatomy courses.
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- What is anatomical position?
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The standardized reference position where a person stands upright with arms at the sides, palms facing forward, and feet together.
- Define superior.
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Toward the head or upper part of the body.
- Define inferior.
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Toward the feet or lower part of the body.
- Define anterior.
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Toward the front or belly side of the body.
- Define posterior.
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Toward the back or rear side of the body.
- Define medial.
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Toward the body's midline or center.
- Define lateral.
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Away from the body's midline, toward the side.
- Define proximal.
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Closer to the point of attachment or origin of a limb.
- Define distal.
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Farther from the point of attachment or origin of a limb.
- Define superficial.
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Closer to the skin surface.
- Define deep.
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Farther from the skin surface, toward internal structures.
- What is a sagittal plane?
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A vertical plane that divides the body into left and right portions.
- What is the midsagittal plane?
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The sagittal plane that divides the body into equal left and right halves, running through the midline.
- What is a frontal plane, also called coronal?
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A vertical plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior sections.
- What is a transverse plane, also called horizontal?
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A horizontal plane that divides the body into superior and inferior sections.