1. Body Directions and Planes

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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