1. Notes: Anatomical Position and Directional Terms

2. Anatomical Position Standing erect
Hands at side with palms facing forward
Feet together
Supine position = lying down, face up
Prone position = lying down, face down

3. Directional Terms Superior/Cranial: toward the upper part/head
Inferior/Caudal: away from the head/lower part
Anterior/ventral: nearer to or at front of body; stomach side
Posterior/dorsal: nearer to or at the back of body; dorsal fin side
Medial: nearer to midline
Lateral: farther away from midline

4. Directional Terms Cont.
Proximal: nearer to attachment of limb to trunk, nearer to origin
Distal: farther away from attachment of limb to trunk, farther away from origin
Superficial: toward or on surface of body
Deep: away from surface of body

5. Try these… The heart is _______ to the liver
The stomach is ________ to the head.
The sternum (breastbone) is ______ to the spinal column.
The esophagus is ________ to stomach.
The skin ________ the blood vessels.
The fingers are ________ to the elbow.

6. Planes of Reference
Frontal plane: vertical plane, divides the body into an anterior/ventral or posterior/dorsal portions.
Sagittal plane: vertical plane, divides the body or organ into right and left sides
Transverse plane: divides the body into superior or inferior portions.