Descriptive Terms - Anatomical Position

Question 1

anatomical position

Answer 1

• palms facing forward, thumbs point away from body (so that radius and ulna are uncrossed)
• body erect
• face is facing forward
• Right/Left = the PERSON’S R/L not the viewer

Question 2

regions of body (2)

Answer 2

1. axial

2. appendicular

Question 3

axial region

Answer 3

head, neck, trunk

Question 4

appendicular region

Answer 4

limbs, pelvic & pectoral girdles (aka where limbs attach)

Question 5

planes of body (3)

Answer 5

1. sagittal
2. frontal
3. transverse

Question 6

sagittal plane

Answer 6

vertical plane dividing body into right & left sides

called the “median” plane if it’s divided at mid line

Question 7

frontal plane

Answer 7

= “coronal” plane

vertical plane dividing body into anterior and posterior

Question 8

transverse

Answer 8

horizontal plane dividing body into superior and inferior

Question 9

cross-section

Answer 9

transverse section of body/tissue

Question 10

oblique section

Answer 10

diagonal section between horizontal & vertical planes