TERMINOLOGY and
THE BODY PLAN
A major key to success in Anatomy and Physiology is the understanding of the terminology or
language of these sciences. In Anatomy one needs to start this understanding by learning the
directional terms. These directional terms are used to refer to body parts in their relative position to
one another, just as one would refer to the location of Athens, Tennessee in relation to other
geographic locations (north of Chattanooga, south of Knoxville).
I. Anatomical Position: the reference position,
regardless of how the specimen is actually
positioned; in human anatomy the person is
1. standing erect
2. feet flat, facing forward
3. arms hanging at side
4. palms facing forward, thumbs to
outside
2. distal: referring to a limb, farther
from point of attachment to the body
than another structure; in regard to a
one-way tube, a later point of passage
than another point.
F. Superficial / Deep
1. superficial: toward or on the surface.
2. deep: away from the surface, internal.
II. Directional Terms: these essentially come
in pairs (just like north/south or east/west).
A. Left / Right: always refers to subjects
left or right.
B. Superior / Inferior
1. superior: structure above another; in
humans, synonymous with cephalic
(toward the head).
2. inferior: structure below another; in
humans, synonymous with caudal
(toward the tail).
C. Anterior / Posterior
1. anterior: toward front of body; in
humans, synonymous with ventral
(toward the belly).
2. posterior: toward back of body; in
humans, synonymous with dorsal
(toward the spine).
D. Lateral / Medial
1. lateral: away from midline of body.
2. medial: toward midline of body.
E. Proximal / Distal
1. proximal: referring to a limb, closer
to point of attachment to the body than
another structure; in regard to a oneway tube, an earlier point of passage
than another point.
III. Planes: imaginary, flat surfaces that cut
the body into sections.
A. Sagittal Plane: a vertical plane cuting
body into left and right sections; midsagittal or median plane cuts body into equal
left and right sections; parasagittal
planes cut body into unequal left and
right sections.
B. Transverse or Horizontal Plane: parallel
to ground; cuts body into superior and
inferior sections.
C. Frontal or Coronal Plane: a vertical
plane; cuts body into anterior and posterior sections.
IV. Sections: organs or other structures can be
cut to reveal their internal structure.
A. Longitudinal Section: cut through the
long axis of organ or other structure.
B. Cross or Transverse Section: cut at right
angle to the long axis of organ or other
structure
C. Oblique Section: cut at angle other than
a right angle.
V. Body Cavities
A. Cranium: houses brain
B. Spinal Canal: houses spinal cord
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C. Thoracic Cavity: surrounded by rib
cage; separated from abdominal cavity
by diaphragm; contains lungs, heart,
thymus, trachea, esophagus.
D. Abdominopelvic Cavity: divided into:
1. abdominal cavity: contains, liver,
stomach, spleen, intestines,
pancreas and kidneys.
2. pelvic cavity: enclosed by pelvis;
contains urinary bladder and
internal reproductive organs.
VI. Body Regions: terms used to refer to
different parts of the body.
A. Upper Limb: divided into
1. arm: between shoulder and elbow;
brachial refers to arm; axilla or
axillary refer to arm pit.
2. forearm: between elbow and wrist;
antebrachial refers to forearm; cubital
refers to elbow.
3. wrist: carpal refers to wrist.
4. hand: manual refers to hand.
B. Lower Limb: divided into:
1.thigh: from hip to knee; femoral refers
to thigh; pelvic or coxal refers to hip.
2. leg: from knee to ankle; tibial may
refer to leg; popliteal may refer to
knee area.
3. ankle: tarsal refers to ankle.
4. foot: pedal refers to foot; plantar
refers to sole of foot.
C. Trunk: thorax is chest, thoracic refers to
chest; abdomen is inferior to the thorax.
D. Organs
1. cardiac: pertaining to heart.
2. pulmonary: pertaining to lungs.
3. hepatic: pertaining to liver.
4. gastric: pertaining to stomach
5. enteric: pertaining to intestines.
6. renal: pertaining to kidneys.
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