Terms Used When Describing Anatomy

Front 1

Anatomical position

Back 1

A standard position in which the body is facing forward, the feet are parallel to each other and the arms are at the sides with the palms facing foward.

Front 2

Superior

Back 2

Toward the upper end of the body or body structure.

Front 3

Inferior

Back 3

Toward the lower end of the body or body structure (opposite superior)

Front 4

Anterior

Back 4

Toward the front of the body

Front 5

Posterior

Back 5

Toward the back of the body.

Front 6

Medial

Back 6

Toward the middle of the body.

Front 7

Lateral

Back 7

Toward the outer sides of the body (opposite of medial).

Front 8

Intermediate

Back 8

Between medial and lateral.

Front 9

Proximal

Back 9

Close to the origin of the body part or point of attachment.

Front 10

Distal

Back 10

Away from the origin of the body part or point of attachment (opposite to proximal).

Front 11

Superficial

Back 11

Toward or at the body surface.

Front 12

Deep

Back 12

Away from or below the body surface

Front 13

Sagittal section

Back 13

Cut made along a longitudinal plane dividing the body into right and left parts.

Front 14

Midsagittal section

Back 14

Sagittal section made down the median of the body.

Front 15

Transverse position (cross section)

Back 15

Cut made along a horizontal plane to divide the body into upper and lower regions.

Front 16

Frontal section (coronal section)

Back 16

Cut made along a longitudinal plan to divide the body into front and back regions.

Front 17

Dorsal body cavity

Back 17

Contains the cranial cavity and spinal column.

Front 18

Ventral body cavity

Back 18

Contains all structures within the chest and abdomen; diaphragm divides the ventral cavity into the thoracic cavity (superior to the diaphragm); below the diaphragm are the abdominal and pelvis cavities.