Human Body Orientation

• The right side is the patient's left.
• anatomy studies the structures of the body parts and their relationships
• physiology study how the body and its parts works or functions
• pathophysiology deals with abnormalities, diseases, and disorders that affect the normal functioning of the body
• gross anatomy can be seen with the naked eye
• histology involves studying tissues under a microscope
• microscopic anatomy requires magnification to see
• cytology focuses on cells
• anatomical position is when the person stands straight facing forward with arms at sides and palms facing front
• posterior refers to backside
• superior means above
• medial means towards midline
• inferior means below
• lateral means away from midline
• proximal means closer to trunk or point of attachment
• distal means farther from trunk or point of attachment
• dorsal is back side
• posterior means back
• anterior is front side
• ventral is front side
• deep means far from the surface
• superficial means near surface
• surface anatomy is the study of structures under overlying skin
• developmental anatomy studies the changes that occurs throughout a life span
• prone is faced down
• supine is face up
• starts with the letter F

  A) leg

  
• medial is toward the midline

  
• lateral is away from the midline

  
• intermediate in between

  
• ipsilateral is on the same side
• contralateral is on the opposite side (directional terms)
• body plane is an imaginary line drawn to the body