Body Directions and Planes

Anatomical Directions

• Anatomical directions relate to positions on the body. – These terms describe areas of the body. – They also provide orientation when describing human

anatomy. – An understanding of these terms is necessary to

study the human body in depth.

• When anatomists refer to the right and left of the body, it is in reference to the right and left of the patient, not the right and left of the observer.

Anatomical Directions• Anterior: The top or front end of an organism's body /

towards the front. 

• Posterior: The behind or end of an organism, or at or towards the rear.

 • Dorsal: The back of an organism / towards the back.

• Ventral: The bottom of an organism, or on or at the bottom.

• Superior: Towards the head or the top part of the structure

• Inferior: Away from the head or the lower part of the structure

Anatomical Directions• Cranial/Cephalic: Towards the head

• Caudal: Away from the head

• Medial: Towards the midline of the body • Lateral: The sides of an organism. • Proximal: Closest to the base or origin • Distal: Towards or at the tip farthest away from the base. • Bilateral Symmetry: An organism is bilaterally

symmetric if when cut from left to right the resulting halves are equal. Humans are mostly bilaterally symmetrical. 

Body Planes• Body planes refer to sections of the body

• These are vertical or horizontal imaginary lines cutting through an upright human body

• There are 3 planes we will be discussing in this class

Body Planes• Coronal (Frontal) Plane: A vertical plane running

from side to side– Divides the body or any of its parts into

anterior and posterior• Sagittal (Lateral) Plane: A vertical plane running

from right to left– Divides the body or any of its parts into right

and left• Axial (Transverse) Plane: A horizontal plane

– Divides the body into upper and lower parts