Language of Anatomy

Anatomists have a set of reference terms that are universally understood.

Allows body structures to be located & identified with minimum words and great clarity.

Anotomical Position

Anatomists/doctors use a universally accepted position, the anatomical position when referring to the body. standing erect, facing forward, arms down at

the side, with the palms turned forward

Surface Anatomy (External Landmarks)

Body surfaces have many visible landmarks. (35 from lab)

Anterior (front) landmarks Posterior (back) landmarks

Two division Axial – head, neck and trunk Appendicular – limbs and attachment to axis

Body Orientation & Direction(Terms have different meaning for quadrupeds and bipeds)

Superior/Inferior Above/below Ex: Standing on your head, your head is

_______ to your neck. Inferior

Anterior/Posterior Front/back Ex: Your chest is _________ to your shoulder

blades. Anterior

Body Orientation & Direction

Medial/Lateral Toward midline/away from midline Ex: The cheeks are ________ to the tongue. Lateral

Dorsal/Ventral Backside/belly side Ex: Your naval is on the _________ side of

the body. Ventral

Body Orientation & Direction

Superficial (external)/Deep (internal) Toward or at the body surface/away from the body

surface Ex: The skin is ____________ to the skeletal muscles. Superficial

Cephalad (cranial)/Caudal Toward head/toward the tail or feet Humans: interchangeable with superior and inferior Quadrupeds: interchangeable with anterior and

posterior

Body Orientation & Direction

Proximal/Distal Nearer the trunk or attached end/farther

from the trunk or point of attachment, can also be used to indicate regions (closer to or farther from the head) of internal tubular organs.

Ex: The knee is ________ to the toes. Proximal Ex: The small intestines is ________ to the

large intestines.

Biped Directional Terms

caudal

Cephalad(cranial)

Body Planes & Sections

To make observations of internal structures during dissection, it is necessary to make sections or cuts.

Sections/cuts are made through the body wall or through an organ along an imaginary surface or line called a plane.

Body Planes & Sections

Sagittal (longitudinal) plane divides a body or organ vertically into right

and left parts. Median/midsagittal plane

The right and left parts are equal Parasagittal Plane

The right and left parts are unequal

Body Planes & Sections

Frontal (coronal) plane divides the body or organ vertically into front

(anterior) and rear (posterior) parts.

Body Planes & Sections

Transverse (cross section) plane divides the body or organ horizontally into top

(superior) and bottom (inferior) parts.

Body Planes

Biped vs. Quadruped Directional Language of Anatomy and Planes

Label the following diagrams of a biped and quadruped with the following terms.

cranial, caudal, dorsal, ventral, anterior, posterior, superior, inferior

What are caudal and cephalad interchangable with in a biped vs. a quadruped?

What parts are the biped and quadruped divided into for a coronal, transverse and sagittal plane?

Biped Directional Terms

caudal

Cephalad(cranial)

Quadruped Directions

Quadruped Planes & Sections (Different From Bipeds)

At the left, from top to bottom, observe a sagittal section, a transverse section, and a dorsal plane section through a dog head.

A sagittal section divides the cadaver into right & left parts. A transverse section divides the cadaver into cranial & caudal parts. A dorsal plane (frontal plane) section is cut parallel to the back, dividing the cadaver into top (dorsal) & bottom (ventral) parts.

Transverse, Sagittal, Coronal

Body Cavities

Axial portion of body two large cavities, protects organs.

Dorsal Body Cavity Cranial cavity – brain Vertebral (spinal) cavity – spinal cord

Ventral Body Cavity Thoracic cavity (superior the diaphragm) – heart,

lungs Abdominopelvic cavity (inferior the diaphragm) –

Abdominal cavity - stomach, intestines, liver Pelvic cavity - reproductive organs, bladder, rectum

Body Cavities

Body Systems/Organs

Reference

Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory Manual

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/What-Is-Anatomy-and-Physiology-.topicArticleId-277792,articleId-277504.html

http://vanat.cvm.umn.edu/planar/