Anatomical DirectionsNEED TO KNOW

Anatomical Planes

Sagittal Plane -- Cuts body in 2 halves; left and right

Coronal Plane -- Cuts body in 2 halves; front and back

Transverse Plane -- Cuts body in 2 halves; top and

bottom

Anatomical Positions

Anatomical positions are basic roadmap style

directions when talking about the human body

The four main directions we will be using will be lateral,

medial, proximal, and distal.

Anatomical Positions

Superior -- towards the head (also called Rostral or

Cranial)

Inferior -- towards the feet (also called Caudal)

Anatomical PositionsPosterior (dorsal) --

Towards the rear of the body

Anterior (ventral)-- towards the front of the body

Anatomical Positions of the Hand

Palmar -- towards the palm side

Dorsal -- towards the backhand side

Proximal -- upwards toward the arm

Distal -- downward toward the finger tips

Anatomical Positions of

the FootPlantar -- relating to the

part of the foot we walk on

Ventral -- relating to the topside of the foot

Ventral

Plantar

Anatomical Cuts

Superficial -- a superficial cut is a cut that is at or toward the body surface

Deep -- a deep cut is a cut away from the body surface; usually to go more internally

Important Anatomical Landmarks

Anterior Landmarks

Peroneal -- lateral side of leg

Antecubital -- front of elbow

Inguinal -- where thigh meets trunk

Important Anatomical Landmarks

Posterior Landmarks

Popliteal -- back of knee

Occipital -- back of head

Sural -- lower calf

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