Learning Objectives

• Describe the anatomical position.

• Use proper anatomical terminology to describe
body directions, surfaces, and body planes.
• Locate the major body cavities, and list the chief
organs in each cavity.
Why do we need to learn
anatomical
terminologies?
often refers to an organ, tissue,
or condition,

often describes the root.

Hypertension

HYPERTENSION is having an abnormal blood

pressure level.
 THE
ANATOMICAL
POSITION

Source: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/nemcc-
ap/chapter/anatomical-terminology/
 describe the different parts of
the body by the structures and
functions of a specific region.

Superior or cranial - toward

the head end of the body; upper
(example, the hand is part of the
superior extremity).
makes up the main axis of the
human body and includes the
head, neck, chest, and trunk.

makes up the parts of the

human body that connect to
the axial region. This includes
the limbs and appendages.
 is formed by the connection of
the dorsal and ventral points of
a region. The region between the
belly (ventral) and back (dorsal) is
often described by a DV axis.
the axis connecting the left and right
hand sides of a region. It is used to
describe the lateral sides of a region,
which in humans are often
symmetrical around the center of the
body. It is perpendicular to both the
DV and AP axes.
 is the axis formed by the
connection of the anterior
(top) and posterior (bottom)
ends of a region. The AP axis of
a region is by definition
perpendicular to the DV axis
and vice-versa.
 Different Directional AP Axes in Three Body Segments of a Horse: Axis (A) (in red) shows the AP axis of
the tail, (B) shows the AP axis of the neck, and (C) shows the AP axis of the head.

SOURCE: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-ap/chapter/mapping-the-body/
Coronal plane – any vertical plane that divides the body into
anterior and posterior (belly and back) sections.

Transverse plane – any plane that divides the body into

superior and inferior parts, roughly perpendicular to the spine.

Sagittal plane – any imaginary plane parallel to the median

plane.
Source:
https://courses.lumenlearning.
com/boundless-
ap/chapter/mapping-the-body/
Source:
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/
83035186850614759/?nic_v2=
1a77cVlE6
Source:
https://accessdl.state.al.us/AventaCourses/acc
ess_courses/anatomy_ua_v17/01_unit/01-
05/01-05_learn_text.htm
Superior or cranial - toward the head end of the body;
upper (example, the hand is part of the
superior extremity).

Inferior or caudal - away from the head; lower

(example, the foot is part of the inferior extremity).
Anterior or ventral - front (example, the kneecap is
located on the anterior side of the leg).

Posterior or dorsal - back (example, the shoulder

blades are located on the posterior side of the body).
Medial - toward the midline of the body (example, the
middle toe is located at the medial side of the foot).

Lateral - away from the midline of the body (example,

the little toe is located at the lateral side of the foot).
Proximal - toward or nearest the trunk or the point
of origin of a part (example, the proximal end of
the femur joins with the pelvic bone).

Distal - away from or farthest from the trunk or the

point or origin of a part (example, the hand is located at
the distal end of the forearm).
Deep refers to structures closer to the interior center
of the body. For example, bones in an appendage
are located deeper than the muscles.

Superficial is used to describe structures that are

closer to the exterior surface of the body. For
example, the outer layers of skin are superficial to
deeper layers of skin.