Anatomical
Directions and Major
Body Regions
Anatomical Position and
Bilateral Symmetry
• In the anatomical position, the body is in an
erect, or standing, posture with the arms at
the sides and palms forward. The head and
feet are also pointing forward.
• Bilateral Symmetry – the left and right sides
are mirror images of each other, and only
one plane can divide the body into left and
right sides.
Anatomical Position
and Bilateral
Symmetry
• Ipsilateral – on the
same side
• Contralateral – on the
opposite side
Major Body Cavities
• Dorsal Body Cavity
– Cranial cavity
– Spinal cavity
• Ventral Body Cavity
– Thoracic cavity
– Abdominopelvic cavity
Body Regions
• Axial – consists of the head, neck and torso
• Appendicular – consists of the upper and
lower extremities and their connections to
the axial portion
Directional Terms
• Superior – toward the head
• Inferior – toward the feet
• Anterior – front or in front of
• Posterior – back or in back of
• Ventral – toward the belly
• Dorsal – toward the back
• Medial – toward the midline of the body
• Lateral – toward the side of the body, or away
from its midline
• Proximal – toward the nearest the trunk of the
body, or nearest point of origin
• Distal – away from or farthest from the trunk or
point of origin of a body part
• Superficial – nearer the surface
• Deep – farther away from the body surface
Body Planes
• Sagittal – A lengthwise plane running from front to
back that divides the body into right and left
sides.
• Coronal – A lengthwise plane running from side to
side. Divides the body or any of its parts into
anterior and posterior. Also called a frontal plane.
• Transverse – A crosswise plane; divides the body
or any of its parts into upper and lower parts.
Also called a horizontal plane.