Proximal - toward or nearest the trunk or the point of origin of a part (example, the proximal end of the femur joins with the pelvic bone).ĭistal - away from or farthest from the trunk or the point or origin of a part (example, the hand is located at the distal end of the forearm). Lateral - away from the midline of the body (example, the little toe is located at the lateral side of the foot). Medial - toward the midline of the body (example, the middle toe is located at the medial side of the foot). Posterior or dorsal - back (example, the shoulder blades are located on the posterior side of the body). Inferior or caudal - away from the head lower (example, the foot is part of the inferior extremity).Īnterior or ventral - front (example, the kneecap is located on the anterior side of the leg). Superior or cranial - toward the head end of the body upper (example, the hand is part of the superior extremity). Three groups of terms are introduced here:ĭirectional terms describe the positions of structures relative to other structures or locations in the body. Knowing these terms will make it much easier for us to understand the content of the following learning units. If you answered B) anterosuperior, you’re right! Remember, the anterior is the front view and the superior is the top view-combine the two and you’ve got yourself a bird’s-eye view of the front of the body.Īnd there you have it: a crash course in anatomical position and directional terms.Before we get into the following learning units, which will provide more detailed discussion of topics on different human body systems, it is necessary to learn some useful terms for describing body structure. Don’t be afraid to refer to the chart before you answer. With me so far? No? Okay, let’s do a practice one. For example, a posterosuperior view combines the posterior and superior, giving us a view in which we are looking down at the back of the body, like so: In many instances, these terms can be paired. Toward the head/upper part of a structure (bird’s-eye view, looking down)Īway from the head/lower part of a structure (bottom view, looking up)įarther from the origination of a structure
Here are some commonly used directional terms:Īt or near the front of the body (front view)Īt or near the back of the body (back view)Īn imaginary vertical line that divides the body equally (right down the middle) Like you use the cardinal directions to explain the location of certain regions (north, northwest, southeast, etc.), you use directional terms to describe the regions of the body. Imagine that when you’re studying a (correctly anatomically positioned) body you’re looking at a map. Up, Down, Side-to-Side: Directional Terms If the anatomical position is placed face-up, it is in the supine position. If the anatomical position is placed face-down, it is in the prone position. If not, it will be by the time you’re through your first two weeks of A&P. This stance should be very familiar to you.
In my college A&P text, right there in the first few pages, every body system was shown in anatomical position. You’ve probably seen all sorts of pictures of the body in your A&P textbooks that look like this. Image captured in AR using Human Anatomy Atlas.
The upper limbs are at the body’s sides with the palms facing forward. In the anatomical position, the body is upright, directly facing the observer, feet flat and directed forward. But there’s a reason our 3D body models (I affectionately call them Brenda and Paul) look stiff as a board-it’s the position in which we study the body.Īnatomical position is the description of any region or part of the body in a specific stance. How many of you have used our apps or at least seen the models and thought, “Boy, that body looks awfully stiff in that one position all the time”? Position Is Everything: Anatomical Position
#Anatomical position download
You can also download all this content (and more!) in our free Planes & Positions eBook.
If you want to learn about planes and cavities, check out part two. Most A&P courses begin with positions and directionals.
#Anatomical position how to
For those of you who have taken an A&P course (or are taking one right now), you know that before you get to learning about the body you need to learn how to talk about the body.