Body Regions &
Anatomical
Terminology
Anatomical Position
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Arms down by side
Palms up
Head and eyes
forward
Legs parallel, feet
together
Coronal/Sagittal/Transverse
Planes
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Coronal Plane (Frontal
Plane)
Sagittal Plane (Lateral
Plane)
Transverse Plane (Axial
Plane)
Coronal Plane
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aka Frontal Plane
Vertical plane running
from side to side
Divides the body or any
of its parts into anterior
and posterior portions
Sagittal Plane
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aka Lateral Plane
vertical plane running
from front to back
Divides the body or any
of its parts into right
and left sides
Transverse Plane
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

aka Axial Plane
Horizontal plane
Divides the body or any
of its parts into upper
and lower parts
Anterior/Posterior
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Anterior—to be situated
near or toward the front
of the body
Posterior--to be
situated toward the
back of the body
Superior/Inferior
Cranial/Caudal

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Superior—means to be situated toward the
upper part or head of the body, positioned
above another organ or structure
Inferior—to be situated toward the lower part
of the body or positioned below another
organ or structure
Cranial—refers to the head end
Caudal—refers to the tail end
Superior/Inferior
Cranial/Caudal
Medial/Lateral
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Medial—to be closer to
the midline of the body
or a structure, being
internal as opposed to
external
Lateral—to be farther
away, in the direction of
either side, from the
midline of the body or a
structure
Proximal/Distal

Proximal: Toward or
nearest the trunk or
the point of origin of a
part

Distal: Away from or
farthest from the trunk
or the point of origin
of a part
Unilateral/Bilateral
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Unilateral—on one side
Bilateral—on both sides
Acute/Chronic

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Acute—symptoms appear and
change/worsen rapidly (heart attack)
Chronic—develops and worsens over an
extended period of time (atherosclerosis)
Ipsilateral/Contralateral

Ipsilateral—on the same side as another
structure


i.e. the left arm is ipsilateral to the left leg.
Contralateral—on the opposite from another
structure

i.e. the left arm is contralateral to the right arm,
or the right leg.
Superficial/Intermediate/Deep

Superficial—near the outer surface of the body


Intermediate—between two other structures


i.e. skin is superficial to the muscle layer
i.e. the naval is intermediate to (or intermediate
between) the left arm and the contralateral (right) leg.
Deep—further away from the surface of the body

i.e. the muscular layer is deep to the skin, but superficial to
the intestines.
Superficial/Intermediate/Deep
Avascular

Without blood
circulation
Ectopic

Occurring in an
abnormal position or
place
Body Cavities

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Thoracic Cavity
Abdominal and Pelvic
Cavity
Dorsal Cavity
Thoracic Cavity
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Upper ventral, thoracic or
chest cavity
Contains:
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Heart
Lungs
Trachea
Esophagus
Large blood vessels
Nerves
Bound laterally by ribs and
the diaphragm caudally
Abdominopelvic Cavity
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
Lower part of ventral
cavity
Abdominal:
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Gastrointestinal tract
Kidneys
Adrenal glands
Pelvic:
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Urogenital system
Rectum
Dorsal Cavity
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Smaller of two main
cavities
Upper portion:
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Cranial cavity
Brain
Lower portion:
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Vertebral canal house
spinal cord