ANATOMY ANATOMICAL PLANES

Is the study of the gross structure of the The terms of ANATOMICAL SECTIONS
human body with the naked eyes and as well as are limited in its usefulness because it does not us
microscopy. orientate us to how the cut was made.
i.e. was the cut made from “top-to-bottom”
ANATOMICAL POSITION or front-to-back” or “side-to-side”. This is the
By definition, “Anatomical position” is when ; reason why we have anatomical planes
- the person is standing erect
- the upper-limbs are by the sides, with the palm of PLANE - is geometrical concept referring to an
the hands facing forwards imagined flat surface.
- the head, eyes, and toes directed forward They are used to describe the sections of the body.
- lower limbs together with the feet directed
anteriorly There are 3 main anatomical planes;
1. SAGITTAL PLANE
2. CORONAL PLANE (also called FRONTAL
PLANE)
3. HORIZONTAL PLANE (also called
TRANSVERSE PLANE)

SAGITTAL PLANE
– it is an imaginary vertical plane (extending from
front to back and top to bottom), dividing the body
into left and right portions.
▪ MIDSAGITTAL PLANE – (also called MEDIAN
PLANE) refers to a sagittal plane that divides
the body into exactly equal right and left
portions.
▪ PARASAGITTAL – any plane parallel to the
medial plane (often used by neurologists)
ANATOMICAL PLANES and SECTIONS
It is often useful to show a figure of a FRONTAL PLANE – (also called the CORONAL
sectioned/cut human body or organ. PLANE)
SECTION - refers to a part cut along a plane. - A vertical plane passing through the body (at right
angles to sagittal plane) and divides the body into
- 3 Types of sections; front (anterior) and back (posterior) portions
1. TRANSVERSE SECTION
2. LONGITUDINAL SECTION HORIZONTAL PLANE – (also called a
3. OBLIQUE SECTION TRANSVERSE plane)
- It divided the body into top (superior) and bottom
ANATOMICAL SECTION (inferior) portions
TRANSVERSE SECTION
– (also called CROSS-SECTION) refers to a part
cut crosswise/ ”width wise”
LONGITUDINAL SECTION
– is a cut made along the long axis (length wise) of
the organ.
OBLIQUE SECTION
– refers to a cut are neither longitudinal nor
transverse cut. They often lie on a slightly oblique
plane.

Longitudinal section Transverse section of

of kidney lungs
ANATOMICAL DIRECTIONS E.g. The shoulders are superior to
Directional terms are used to locate structures in the hips.
the body.
Below is a list of directional terms and their INFERIOR – Toward the bottom of the body.
definitions. E.g. The stomach is inferior to the
heart.

ANATOMICAL DIRECTIONS
DEEP – Toward the inside of a part; away from the
surface.
LEFT - To the left of the body (not your left, the E.g. The thigh muscles are deep to
subject’s) the skin
E.g. The stomach is to the left of the SUPERFICIAL – Toward the surface of a part;
liver away from the inside.
E.g. The skin is a superficial organ
RIGHT – To the right of the body or structure being MEDULLARY – Refers to an inner region, or
studied. medulla
E.g. The right kidney is damaged E.g. The medullary portion of the
organ contains nerve
LATERAL – Toward the side; away from the tissue
midsagittal plane. CORTICAL – Refers to an outer region, or cortex.
E.g. The eyes are lateral to the E.g. The cortical area produces
nose. hormones
BODY CAVITIES
MEDIAL – Toward the midsagittal plane; away from DORSAL BODY CAVITIES – are cavities in the
the side “back” half of the body
E.g. The eyes are medial to the
ears. 2 main groups;

1. CRANIAL CAVITIES

2. SPINAL CAVITY
DORSAL BODY CAVITIES

1. CRANIAL CAVITIES – Within the skull

Organ: Brain

2. SPINAL CAVITY – Within the vertebral

column
Organ: Spinal cord

ANATOMICAL DIRECTIONS
ANTERIOR – Toward the front of the body.
E.g. The nose is on the anterior of
the head.

POSTERIOR – Toward the back (rear) of the body BODY CAVITIES

E.g. The heel is posterior to the VENTRAL BODY CAVITIES – are cavities in the
toes. “front” half of the body.
6 main groups;
SUPERIOR – Toward the top of the body. THORACIC CAVITY
PLEURAL CAVITY
MEDIASTINUM
ABDOMINOPELVIC CAVITY
ABDOMINAL CAVITY
PELVIC CAVITY

VENTRAL BODY CAVITIES

THORACIC CAVITY – within the rib cage

2. PLEURAL CAVITY – Left one third and

right one third of the thoracic
cavity
Organ: lung

3. MEDIASTINUM – Middle one third of thorax

Organ: Heart, Trachea and
oesophagus

VENTRAL BODY CAVITIES

4. ABDOMINOPELVIC CAVITY – From the
SURFACE REGIONS
diaphragm to the bottom of the
ANTERIOR ASPECT
trunk
5. ABDOMINAL CAVITY – From the diaphragm to
9. CRURAL – Anterior lower legs (shin)
the rim of the pelvic bones
Organs: stomach, liver, most of the
10. CUBITAL – Anterior elbow joint
intestines, pancreas, spleen and kidneys
6. PELVIC CAVITY – From the pelvic rim to the
11. FEMORAL – Upper leg (thigh)
floor of the trunk
Organs: Portions of the intestines,
12. MENTAL – Chin
ovaries, uterus, urinary bladder.
SURFACE REGIONS
13. ORBITAL – Eye
ANTERIOR ASPECT
14. PATELLA – Anterior knee joint
1. ABDOMINAL – Area overlying the abdominal
cavity
15. PUBIC – Lower front of trunk, between legs
2. ANTEBRACHIAL – forearm
3. AXILLARY – Armpit
16. TARSAL – ankle
4. BRACHIAL – Upper arm
5. BUCCAL – cheek
17. THORACIC - Chest
6. CARPAL – wrist
7. CERVICAL – Neck
SURFACE REGIONS
8. COXAL - Hip
POSTERIOR ASPECT

1. CERVICAL – Neck
2. GLUTEAL – Buttocks
3. LUMBAR – lower back
4. OCCIPITAL – Posterior of head
5. POPLITEAL – Posterior knee joint
6. SCAPULAR – shoulder blade
7. SURAL – calf
8. THORACIC – upper back
 EXTENSION – indicates straightening or
increasing the angle between the bones or parts of
the body.
E.g. Extension at elbow joint occurs
at posterior direction. Extension at knee joint
occurs in anterior direction.

HYPEREXTENSION – (OVER EXTENSION

beyond anatomical limit) - can cause injury
MOVEMENTS E.g. Whiplash – hyperextension of
Movements take place at joints where two or more the neck during rear- end automobile
bones or cartilages articulate with one collision.
another.

The different types of movements are;

FLEXION
EXTENSION
DORSIFLEXION
PLANTARFLEXION
ABDUCTION
ADDUCTION
ROTATION – MEDIAL and RADIAL ROTATION
OPPOSITION MOVEMENTS
MOVEMENTS WHIPLASH injury ;
9. PROTRACTION - Sudden extension of the cervical spine
10. RETRACTION (backward movement of the neck) and flexion
11. ELEVATION (forward movement of the neck).
12. DEPRESSION - This type of trauma is also referred to as a
13. EVERSION cervical acceleration-deceleration (CAD) injury.
14. INVERSION - Rear-end or side-impact motor vehicle
15. PRONATION collisions are the number one cause of whiplash
16. SUPINATION with injury to the muscles, ligaments, tendons,
17. PRONE joints, and discs of the cervical spine.
18. SUPINE - Produce symptoms and signs of “pinched
nerve” (radiculopathy of cervical spine - e.g. Neck
MOVEMENTS pain or neck pain that travels down the arm ).
FLEXION – Bending or decreasing the angle
between the bones or parts of the body.

E.g. Flexion of the upper

limb at elbow joint is an
anterior bending; Flexion
of the knee at the knee
joint is a posterior bending.
 ABDUCTION – means moving away
from body midline. E.g. Moving
an upper-limb away from the
side of the body.

ADDUCTION – means moving

toward the body midline
E.g. Moving an upper-limb
toward the side of the body.

ROTATION – involves turning

or revolving a part of the body
MOVEMENTS around its longitudinal axis
DORSIFLEXION – Flexion at the ankle joint, as (E.g. turnings one’s head to the side)
occurs when walking uphill or lifting the toes off
ground MEDIAL ROTATION – Rotation
toward the midline of the body.
PLANTARFLEXION – Turns the foot or toes
toward the plantar surface. LATERAL ROTATION – Rotation
E.g. When standing on your toes) away from the midline of the body
 RETRACTION – (SCAPULAR ADDUCTION)
Shoulder girdle moves backward from anatomical
position.

OPPOSITION – Movement by which

the pad of the thumb is brought to
another digit pad. E.g. We use this
movement to pinch, button a shirt.
ELEVATION – Raises or moves a part superiorly
(upward)
E.g. Elevating the shoulders when
shrugging.
DEPRESSION – Lowers or moves a part inferiorly .
E.g. Depressing the shoulders when
standing at ease.

PROTRUSION – Anterior (forward) movement.

E.g. Sticking the chin out.

RETRUSION – Posterior
(backward) movement.
E.g. Tucking the chin in.

EVERSION – Lateral (outward) rotation of sole of

foot.

INVERSION – Medial (inward) rotation of the sole

of foot.

PROTRACTION- (SCAPULAR ABDUCTION)

Shoulder girdle moves forward to anatomical
position.
PRONATION – Movement of the forearm and hand
so that the it is rotated medially along the
longitudinal axis - so that the palm of the hand
faces posteriorly (backward) and the dorsum of the
hand faces anteriorly (frontward).
SUPINATION – Movement of the forearm and
hand so that it is rotated laterally along the
longitudinal axis – so the palm of the hand faces
anteriorly (frontward) and the dorsum of the hand
faces posteriorly (backward)

ADDITIONAL TERMS
PRONE – Face down

SUPINE – Face up