Table of Contents
What are the 7 directional terms used in anatomy?
Up, Down, Side-to-Side: Directional Terms
| Anterior | At or near the front of the body (front view) |
|---|---|
| Posterior | At or near the back of the body (back view) |
| Midline | An imaginary vertical line that divides the body equally (right down the middle) |
| Lateral | Farther from midline (side view) |
| Medial | Nearer to midline (side view) |
Is cranial a directional term?
Directional Terms Superior or cranial – toward the head end of the body; upper (example, the hand is part of the superior extremity). Medial – toward the midline of the body (example, the middle toe is located at the medial side of the foot).
Why do anatomists use directional terms?
Regions of the body are identified using terms such as “occipital” that are more precise than common words and phrases such as “the back of the head.” Directional terms such as anterior and posterior are essential for accurately describing the relative locations of body structures.
What are the directional terms of the body?
Directional Terms. A frontal plane, also called a coronal plane, is made at right angles to the midline and divides the body into anterior and posterior parts. A sagittal (SAJ-i-tal) plane passes from front to back and divides the body into right and left portions. If the plane passes through the midline, it is a mid-sagittal or medial plane.
Sagittal Plane: Cuts the body into left and right halves. Forward and backward movements. Frontal Plane: Cuts the body into front and back halves.
Is the hallux proximal or lateral to the digits?
The thumb (pollex) is lateral to the digits. Medial describes the middle or direction toward the middle of the body. The hallux is the medial toe. Proximal describes a position in a limb that is nearer to the point of attachment or the trunk of the body. The brachium is proximal to the antebrachium.
Which is distal to the antebrachium or proximal?
The hallux is the medial toe. Proximal describes a position in a limb that is nearer to the point of attachment or the trunk of the body. The brachium is proximal to the antebrachium. Distal describes a position in a limb that is farther from the point of attachment or the trunk of the body. The crus is distal to the femur.