The Language of Anatomy Anatomical Position & Directional Terms

Medial Toward the midline of the body The heart is medial to the arm

Lateral Away from the midline of the body The arms are lateral to the chest

Proximal Closer to the origin of the body part The elbow is proximal to the wrist

Distal Farther from the origin of a body part The knee is distal to the thigh

Inferior Lower or below The navel is inferior to the chin

Superior Upper or above The head is superior to the abdomen

Cranial - head end Example:

Caudal – tail end Example

Toward the front of the body Anterior Toward the front of the body The breastbone is anterior to the spine

Posterior Toward the back of the body The heart is posterior to the breastbone

Dorsal – back side Example

Ventral – stomach side Example:

(superior) (posterior) (anterior) (inferior)

Planes of the Body

Frontal or Coronal Plane http://www.madsci.org/~lynn/VH/coronal.html

Frontal Plane Imaging

Sagittal or Lateral plane http://www.madsci.org/~lynn/VH/sagittal2.html

Sagittal Plane Imaging

Transverse or Axial Plane http://www.madsci.org/~lynn/VH/transverse.html

Transverse Plane Imaging

Build an animal with the supplies you are given! Our first dissection….. Build an animal with the supplies you are given! Requirements: Your animal must have a head end, a tail end, and it must stand on 4 legs