ANATOMICAL POSITION
(Fig. 1)
For descriptive purposes, it has been agreed to consider the subject standing upright with his eyes looking forwards, the feet close together and the arms straight by the sides with the palms facing forwards. This position is called the anatomical position.
All the descriptions your read in Anatomy books are given while the body is in the anatomical position.
Anatomical planes and terms: (Fig. 2)
Some anatomical planes and terms are important to be known in order to make the description of structures relative to each other easier and consistent.
-The median plane is an imaginary vertical plane which passes anteroposteriorly through the body in the middle line i.e. which divides the bod> into two equal halves.
-The sagittal plane is a plane parallel to the median plane. It divides the body into 2 unequal parts; right and left.
-The coronal plane is any vertical plane which passes at right angles to the median plane or sagittal plane. It passes through the body from side to side. It divides the body into anterior and posterior parts.
-The transverse plane is a horizontal plane which passes through body at a right angle to the median, sagittal or coronal plane. It divides the body into upper and lower parts
![clip_image003[6]](http://i-need-more.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/clip_image0036.gif "clip_image003[6]")
![clip_image005[6]](http://i-need-more.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/clip_image0056.gif "clip_image005[6]")
Describing structures relative to each other: (Fig. 3).
• Any structure nearer to the middle line than another is said to be media! to the other while the other is lateral to it. Any structure (except the median) has a medial and a lateral aspect.
• Any structure nearer to the front than another is said u>
be anterior (or ventral) to the other while the other is posterior (or dorsal; to it.
• Any structure nearer to the head than another is said to be cranial (or superior) to the other while the other is caudal (or inferior) to it.
• Any structure nearer to the surface of the bod\ than
another is said to be superficial to the other while- the other is deep to it.
• In the upper limb or the lower limb, the segment which nearer to the trunk than another is said to be proximo! lithe other while that which is far from the trunk than another said to be distal to it.
