Anatomy Body Directions

Anatomical directional terms are like the directions on a compass rose of a map. Like the directions north south east and west they can be used to describe the locations of structures in relation to other structures or locations in the body.

Body Directions Regions Planes

The next pair of directional terms relate to the front or back of the body or structure relative to another structure.

Anatomy body directions. The vertebral axis is only one direction and our bodies have two additional directions. The eyes are superior to the mouth. For animals that dont carry their spine in an upright or vertical position cranial and caudal will always denote the same directions.

The nose is on the anterior side of the head. For these reasons the basic directional terms can be considered to be those used in vertebrates. This quiz will cover directional terms such as superior and inferior lateral and medial and intermediate proximal and distal anterior and posterior and superficial and deep.

Anterior or ventral means front of or in the front your abdominal muscles are on the anterior side. By extension the same terms are used for. The arms are usually moved slightly out and away from the body so that the hands dont touch the sides of the body.

Dont forget to watch the anatomical position and directional terms lecture on youtube as well as our article on the directional terms for anatomy. Standing upright facing the observer head level eyes facing forward feet flat on the floor arms at the sides palms turned forward prone position lying face down supine position lying face up. Anatomy is the study of the structure of the human bodythe standard anatomical position for humans is the feet together or slightly apart and the forearms are rotated with the palms forward and the thumbs pointed away from the body.

All vertebrates have the same basic body plan they are strictly bilaterally symmetrical in early embryonic stages and largely bilaterally symmetrical in adulthood. The chest is inferior to the neck and so on. Standard anatomical terms of location deal unambiguously with the anatomy of animals including humans.

That is they have mirror image left and right halves if divided down the middle. Standardized position used to describe directional terms like. Front to back and side to side.

The terms for the front to back direction are. Anatomical orientation and directions information to be able to direct others to specific anatomical structures or to find structures based on someone elses directions it is useful to have specific pairs of terms that allow you to orient your search with respect to the location of another known structures. An anatomy quiz may ask this.

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The Language Of Anatomy Anatomical Position And Directional