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BIO 304 · Human Anatomy & Physiology

Anatomical Position, Planes & Directional Terms

Foundations of Anatomy & Physiology · Module 1

A reference sheet to accompany the Anatomical Position video. Anatomical position is the standard body "map"; planes and directional terms are how we navigate it without ambiguity.

How to use this sheet Toggle the toolbar above. Notes prints the full reference for review. Study prints as a fill-in-the-blank worksheet , print it, then write each definition while you watch the video or read your book. Quiz me is on-screen typing practice; type the term, click Reveal to check yourself.

Open spaced recall
By the end
  1. Demonstrate anatomical position and contrast it with the prone and supine positions.
  2. Identify the three primary body planes (sagittal, frontal, transverse) and the cut each one produces.
  3. Apply paired directional terms (medial/lateral, proximal/distal, superficial/deep, etc.) to describe relative locations.
OpenStax Figure 1.12: anterior and posterior view of the body in anatomical position, with regional terms labeled across face, neck, trunk, upper limb, pelvis, and lower limb.
Fig 1.12 · Anatomical position & regions
OpenStax Figure 1.13: side view and anterior view of a female showing paired directional terms with arrows: cranial/caudal, anterior/posterior, proximal/distal, medial/lateral.
Fig 1.13 · Directional terms
OpenStax Figure 1.14: a body shown with three anatomical planes cutting through it - sagittal (right and left halves), frontal/coronal (anterior and posterior), and transverse (superior and inferior).
Fig 1.14 · Body planes

Click any image to enlarge. Images: OpenStax Anatomy & Physiology 2e, CC BY 4.0.

Directional Terms

The vocabulary you use to describe where a region sits relative to another. Always given from the patient's perspective in anatomical position.

  • Superiorabove · toward the head
  • Inferiorbelow · toward the feet
  • Anterior · Ventraltoward the front of the body
  • Posterior · Dorsaltoward the back of the body
  • Medialtoward the midline
  • Lateralaway from the midline
  • Proximalcloser to the trunk / point of attachment
  • Distalfarther from the trunk / point of attachment
  • Superficialcloser to the body surface
  • Deepfarther from the body surface
  • Cranial · Cephaladtoward the head
  • Caudaltoward the tailbone / inferior
  • Ipsilateralon the same side of the body
  • Contralateralon the opposite side of the body

Anatomical Position

  • Standing uprightfeet shoulder-width apart, parallel, toes forward
  • Arms at sidespalms facing forward, thumbs lateral
  • Head & eyes forwardlooking straight ahead, level
  • Supinelying face-up · default in a hospital bed
  • Pronelying face-down · used in COVID care and some surgeries

Body Planes

  • Sagittalvertical cut, divides body into right and left
  • Midsagittal · mediansagittal cut exactly down the midline · equal halves
  • Parasagittalsagittal cut off-center · unequal halves
  • Frontal · coronalvertical cut, divides into anterior and posterior
  • Transversehorizontal cut, divides into superior and inferior · cross-section
  • Obliqueany angled cut, not parallel to the other three

Directional Terms in Use

The relationship goes both ways: if A is superior to B, then B is inferior to A.

  • Superior ↔ Inferior"The orbits are superior to the oris."
  • Anterior ↔ Posterior"The toes are anterior to the foot."
  • Medial ↔ Lateral"The hallux is the medial toe; the pollex is lateral."
  • Proximal ↔ Distal"The brachium is proximal to the antebrachium."
  • Superficial ↔ Deep"The skin is superficial to the bones."
  • Ipsilateral ↔ Contralateral"Right-side weakness from a left-sided stroke is contralateral."
Dr. Sharilyn Rennie BIO 304 · Module 1 · Anatomical Position