The Organization of the Body

• It is when a person standing erect (or lying supine as if erect) with the head, eyes, and toes directed forward, the upper limbs by the sides with the palms facing forward, and the lower limbs together with the toes pointing forward.

  Anatomical Position
• It is an imaginary flat surface.

  Anatomical Plane
• What are the four kinds of anatomical planes?

  1. Median plane/ Midsagittal plane
  2. Sagittal (Parasagittal)
  3. Coronal/ Frontal
  4. Transverse/ Horizontal
• It is the imaginary vertical line passing longitudinally through the body from front to back dividing it into EQUAL right and left halves.

  Median Plane
• Otherwise known as the "Midsagittal plane".


  Median Plane
• It is the imaginary vertical plane passing through the body parallel to the median plane dividing this into right and left parts.

  Sagittal Plane
• What are the two types of sagittal plane?

  • Midsagittal
  • Parasagittal
• It is the sagittal plane that passes through the median plane of the body; the “median plane”.

  Midsagittal
• It is the sagittal plane that divides the body into right and left portions but does not pass through the median plane.

  Parasagittal
• It is the imaginary vertical plane passing through the body at right angles to the median plane, dividing it into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

  Coronal/ Frontal Plane
• It is the imaginary plane passing through the body at right angles to both the median and coronal planes dividing the body into upper and lower parts.

  Transverse/ Horizontal Plane
• Which among the four anatomical planes is NOT a vertical plane?

  Transverse/ Horizontal Plane
• Toward the top of the body (Nearer to the head).

  Superior
• The neck is _______ to the chest.

  Superior
• Toward the bottom of the body (Nearer to the feet).

  Inferior
• The nose is _______ to the forehead.

  Inferior
• These anatomical terms of relationship are relative to the head.

  Superior vs Inferior
• These anatomical terms of relationship are relative to the front and back sides of the body.

  Anterior vs Posterior
• Toward the front of the body.

  Anterior
• The sternum is _______ to the heart.

  Anterior
• Toward the back of the body.

  Posterior
• The heel is _______ to the toes.

  Posterior
• These anatomical terms of relationship are relative to the front and back sides of the body.

  Anterior vs Posterior
• These anatomical terms of relationship are relative to the midline of the body.

  Medial vs. Lateral
• The condition in these anatomical terms should be on the same side and level.

  Medial vs Lateral
• Toward the middle or midline of the body.

  Medial
• The index finger is _______ to the thumb.

  Medial
• Away from the midline of the body.

  Lateral
• The nipple is _______ to the breastbone (sternum).

  Lateral
• These anatomical terms of relationship are relative to a point of origin.

  Proximal vs Distal
• The condition in these anatomical terms should be on the same upper limb and lower limb.

  Proximal vs Distal
• Toward the trunk or point of origin.

  Proximal
• The elbow is _______ to the wrist.

  Proximal
• Away from the trunk or point of attachment.

  Distal
• The knee is _______ to the hip.

  Distal
• These anatomical terms of relationship are relative to the surface of the body.

  Superficial vs Deep
• The condition in these anatomical terms should be on the layer.

  Superficial vs Deep
• Toward the surface of a part; away from the surface.

  Superficial
• The skin is _______ to the muscle.

  Superficial
• The skin is _______ to the muscle.

  Superficial