Anatomy · College

Anatomical Terminology and Directional Terms

Standard anatomical position, planes, and directional terminology used across anatomy courses.

30 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.

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

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