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Terms & Orientations
of the Body
Human Biology/Forensics
B.M.C. Durfee High School
Adapted from The Human Body: An Orientationwww.d.umn.edu
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Objectives
Standard (anatomical) position
Describe directional terms used in
human anatomy
Describe the different body planes
used in human anatomy
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Anatomical Position
Standard erect (anatomical)
position
Body erect with feet together
Arms at side with palms
forward
The anatomical position is
the common visual
reference point
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Anatomical Position
Directional terms used in
anatomy reference deviationsfrom the anatomical position(e.g. abduction of arm)
Additionally, the terms rightand left always refer to theperson, cadaver, or skeletonbeing viewed and are not the
viewers right and left
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Directional and Regional Terms
Regional terms are the names of specific bodyareas. The areas labeled here pertain to thefundamental divisions of the body.
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Directional Terms Superior- Towards the head end or upper part of a
structure or the body
Inferior- Away from the head end or toward the
lower parts of a structure of the body
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Directional Terms
Ventral or Anterior- Toward or at the front of thebody
Dorsal or Posterior- Toward the back of the body;
behind
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Directional Terms
Medial- Toward or at the midline of the body
Lateral- Away from the midline of the body
Intermediate- Between a more medial and a more
lateral structure
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Directional Terms
Proximal- Closer to the origin of the body part, or thepoint of attachment of a limb to the body truck
Distal- Farther from the origin of a body part or the
point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk
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Directional Terms
Superficial- Toward or at the body surface
Deep- Away from the body surface; more internal
Anatomical Directions
http://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_3/Anatomical%20Directions.mp4http://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_3/Anatomical%20Directions.mp47/29/2019 Terms and Orientations of the Body
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Body Planes of Section
In the study of anatomy, the
body is often sectioned (cut)
along a flat surface called a
plane
Planes section the bodythrough portions of the
anatomical position
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Body Planes of Section
The most frequently used
body planes are:
Sagittal
Frontal
Transverse which are at rightangles to each other
A section bears the name of
the plane along which it is
cut
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Sagittal Body Planes
The Sagittal plane liesvertically and divides the
body into right and left
parts
The Sagittal plane liesexactly at midline and is
also referred to as the
median or midsagittal
plane
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Frontal Body Planes
The frontal plane divides thebody into anterior and
posterior sections
Also called a coronal when
referencing the head
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Traverse Body Planes
A transverse plane runshorizontally and divides the
body into superior and
inferior sections
Transverse sections are alsocalled cross sections
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Review
Standard (anatomical) position
Describe directional terms used in
human anatomy
Describe the different body planes
used in human anatomy
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