Anatomy & Physiology
A practical map of the body's structures and systems
Lesson 2 of 20
Anatomical position, planes & directions
Anatomical language gives clinicians a shared, precise reference. Directional terms are defined from standard anatomical position even when a person is lying down or turning. Planes describe imaginary slices through the body and help organize movement and location. Using these conventions avoids ambiguity during assessment and communication.
Key points
- In anatomical position, the person stands upright, faces forward, arms at sides, palms forward.
- Superior/inferior mean toward the head/toward the feet; anterior/posterior mean front/back.
- Medial is nearer the midline; lateral is farther from it.
- Proximal is nearer a limb's attachment; distal is farther away.
- Sagittal divides left and right, frontal divides front and back, and transverse divides upper and lower portions.
- Superficial describes nearer the body surface; deep describes farther beneath it.
Key terms
- Anatomical position
- Standard upright reference posture with palms facing forward.
- Sagittal plane
- Plane dividing the body into right and left portions.
- Frontal plane
- Plane dividing the body into anterior and posterior portions.
- Transverse plane
- Plane dividing the body into superior and inferior portions.
- Proximal
- Closer to a limb's attachment or point of origin.
Memory tip
Use your own right and left as the reference, not the observer's.
Clinical note
Directional language remains tied to anatomical position regardless of the client's table position.
Unit checkpoint
Lock it in: match the terms, then test yourself.