- anterior (ventral)
toward the front (belly) of the body
- posterior (dorsal)
toward the back of the body
- medial
toward the midline of the body
- lateral
toward the side of the body
- proximal
nearer to the point of attachment or to a given reference
point
- distal
farther from the point of attachment or from a given
reference point
- superior
above
- inferior
below
- cranial (cephalic)
toward the head
- caudal
toward the lower end of the spine
- superficial (external)
close to surface of the body
- deep (internal)
close to the center of the body
- frontal plane
also called a coronal plane, is made at right angles
to the midline and divides the body into anterior and
posterior parts
- sagittal plane
passes from front to back and divides the body into
right and left portions, if the plane passes throught
the midline, it is a mid-sagittal or medial plane
- transverse plane
passes horizontally dividing the body into superior
and inferior parts
- anatomic position
standing erect, facing forward, arms at sides, palms
forward, legs parallel, and toes pointed forward
- decubitus position
lying down, specifically according to the part of the
body resting on a flat surface, as in left or right lateral
decubitus, or dorsal or ventral decubitus
- dorsal recumbant position
on back, with legs bent and separated, feet flat
- Fowler position
on back, head of bed raised about 18 inches and knees
elevated
- knee-chest position
on knees, head and upper chest on table, arms crossed
above head
- left lateral recumbent position
on left side, right leg drawn up
- lithotomy position
on back, legs flexed on abdomen, thighs apart
- prone
lying face down
- Sims positon
on left side, right leg drawn up high and forward, left
arm along back, and chest forward resting on bed
- supine
lying face up
- Trendelenburg position
on back with head lowered by tilting bed back at 45
degree angle
