Anatomy Directions

Anatomical Directions

• Anterior refers to the front of the body
• Posterior refers to the back of the body
• Dorsal refers to the area along the vertebral (back) column
• Ventral refers to the area along the belly (front)
• Medial refers to the area toward the middle of the body, away from the side
• Lateral refers to the area away from the middle of the body, on the outer side
• Inferior refers to the lower part of the body, farther from the head
• Superior refers to the higher part of the body, nearer to the head

Anatomical Planes

• Midline is an imaginary line dividing the body into right and left halves
• Sagittal Plane is a vertical plane dividing the head and torso into right and left equal parts, along the midline
• Transverse Plane is a horizontal plane dividing the body into top and bottom halves
• Frontal Plane is a vertical plane dividing the body into front and back portions (anterior and posterior)

Movements and Actions

• Extension occurs when the angle between two segments increases
• Flexion occurs when the angle between two segments decreases
• Abduction occurs when a body part moves away from the midline of the body (e.g., arms and legs)
• Adduction occurs when a body part moves toward the midline of the body (e.g., arms and legs)
• Rotation occurs when a body part rotates away from or towards the center
• Extension and flexion occur in the Sagittal Plane
• Abduction and adduction occur in the Frontal Plane
• Rotation occurs in the Transverse Plane

Axes of Rotation

• Longitudinal Axis is an imaginary line running down the center of the body (vertical), rotating in the Transverse Plane (pirouette)
• Anteroposterior Axis is an imaginary line running from the anterior to the posterior side of the body, rotating in the Frontal Plane (cartwheel)
• Horizontal Axis is an imaginary line separating the superior and inferior half of the body (horizontal), rotating in the Sagittal Plane (flip)

Other Anatomical Terms

• Pronation occurs when the arm and forearm are turned inwards
• Supination occurs when the arm and forearm are turned outwards
• Dorsiflexion occurs when the toes are pointed towards the shin
• Plantar Flexion occurs when the toes are pointed away from the shin
• Inversion occurs when the sole moves towards the median plane
• Eversion occurs when the sole moves away from the median plane
• Supine refers to lying on the back
• Prone refers to lying flat, face down

Anatomical Directions

• Anterior refers to the front of the body
• Posterior refers to the back of the body
• Dorsal refers to the area along the vertebral column (back)
• Ventral refers to the area along the belly (front)
• Medial refers to the direction toward the middle of the body, away from the side
• Lateral refers to the direction away from the middle of the body, on the outer side
• Inferior refers to the lower part of the body, farther from the head
• Superior refers to the higher part of the body, nearer to the head
• Proximal refers to the direction closer to the point of attachment
• Distal refers to the direction away from the point of attachment
• Deep refers to the area away from the body surface, more internal
• Superficial refers to the area near the surface of the body

Planes of the Body

• Midline is an imaginary line drawn down the center of the body, dividing it into right and left halves
• Sagittal Plane is a vertical plane that divides the head and torso into right and left equal parts, along the midline
• Transverse Plane is a horizontal plane that divides the body into a top half and a bottom half
• Frontal Plane divides the body into front and back portions (anterior and posterior)

Movements and Axes

• Extension occurs when the angle between two segments increases
• Flexion occurs when the angle between two segments decreases
• Abduction occurs when a movement is away from the midline of the body (arms and legs)
• Adduction occurs when a movement is toward the midline of the body (arms and legs)
• Rotation occurs when rotating away or towards the center, it can be internal or external
• Extension and flexion happen in the Sagittal Plane
• Abduction and adduction happen in the Frontal Plane
• Rotation happens in the Transverse Plane
• Longitudinal Axis is an imaginary line running down the center of the body (vertical), rotating in the Transverse Plane
• Anteroposterior Axis is an imaginary line running from the anterior to the posterior side of the body, rotating in the Frontal Plane
• Horizontal Axis is an imaginary line that separates the superior and inferior half of the body (horizontal), rotating in the Sagittal Plane

Additional Terms

• Pronation occurs when the arm and forearm are turned inwards
• Supination occurs when the arm and forearm are turned outward
• Dorsiflexion occurs when the toes are pointed towards the shin
• Plantar Flexion occurs when the toes are pointed away from the shin
• Inversion occurs when the sole moves towards the median plane
• Eversion occurs when the sole moves away from the median plane
• Supine refers to lying on the back
• Prone refers to lying flat, face down