Anatomical Terms

• The anatomical position is a standing position, with the head facing forward and the arms to the side. The palms are facing forward with the fingers extended, and the thumbs are pointing away from the body. The feet are spaced slightly apart with the toes pointing forward.
• Anatomical landmarks are specific points on the human body used as reference markers to describe locations, movements, and structures in relation to one another, facilitating communication and study in medical and educational fields.
• Median: vertical anteroposterior plane passing longitudinally through the midlines of the head, neck, and trunk. (Gitnang-gitna)
• Sagittal: any vertical plane passing through the body parallel to the median plane. (Left & Right)
• Frontal (coronal): vertical planes passing through the body at right angles to the median plane. (Posterior & Anterior)
• • Transverse (axial): horizontal planes passing through the body at right angles to the median and frontal planes. (Horizontal)
• Longitudinal: lengthwise or parallel to the long axis of the body or of any of its parts.
• Transverse: cut at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the body or of any of its parts.
• Oblique: sectioning at an angle.
• Superior (Cranial, Cephalic): nearer the vertex
• Inferior (Caudal): nearer the sole of the foot
• Posterior (Dorsal): back surface of the body.
• • Anterior (Ventral): front surface of the body
• Rostral: describe parts of the brain instead of anterior; nearer the anterior part of the head.
• Medial: nearer to the median plane of the body
• Lateral: farther away from the median plane of the body
• Dorsal: surface of the hands, feet, and digits of both corresponding to the dorsum
• Palmar: surface of the hand and fingers corresponding to the palm
• Plantar: surface of the foot and toes corresponding to the sole
• Superficial: nearer to the surface
• Intermediate: between a superficial and deep structure
• Deep: farther from surface
• External: outside of or farther from the center of an organ or cavity
• Internal: inside or closer to the center, independent of direction
• Proximal: nearer/toward the attachment of a limb or the central aspect of a linear structure.
• Distal: farther/away from the attachment of a limb or the central aspect of a linear structure.
• Bilateral: Paired structures with left and right members
• Unilateral: Structures occurring on one side only
• Ipsilateral: Structure occurring on the same side of the body as another structure
• Contralateral: Structure occurring on the opposite side of the body as another structure
• Flexion: decrease in angle between parts of the body occurring in the sagittal plane. (Frontal)
• Extension: increase in angle between parts of the body occurring in the sagittal plane. (Frontal)
• Hyperextension - more than the angle
• Abduction: movement away from the median plane usually occurring in the coronal plane. (Sagittal)
• Adduction: Movement towards the median plane usually occurring in the coronal plane. (Sagittal)
• Abduction of digits: Moving fingers away from neutral 3rd (middle) finger or the toes away from the neutral 2nd toe.
• Adduction of digits: Moving fingers towards neutral 3rd (middle) finger or the toes towards the neutral 2nd toe.
• Eversion: moves the sole of the foot away from the median plane, turning the sole laterally.
• • Inversion: moves the sole of the foot toward the median plane, turning the sole medially.
• Flexion and extension occurs at the frontal plane