AN1.1-2 | Anatomical terminology — Glossary

The universal reference position: body upright, facing forward, feet shoulder-width, arms at sides, palms forward

A vertical plane dividing the body into right and left portions; the midsagittal (median) plane runs exactly down the midline

A vertical plane dividing the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions, also called the frontal plane

A horizontal plane dividing the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions; CT scans produce images in this plane

Toward the head or upper part of the body; synonymous with cranial

Toward the feet or lower part of the body; synonymous with caudal

Toward the front of the body; synonymous with ventral in standard anatomical position

Toward the back of the body; synonymous with dorsal in standard anatomical position

Toward the midline of the body

Away from the midline of the body

Closer to the point of attachment to the trunk; used for limbs

Farther from the point of attachment to the trunk; used for limbs

Closer to the body surface

Farther from the body surface

A movement that decreases the angle between body parts, occurring in the sagittal plane

A movement that increases the angle between body parts, occurring in the sagittal plane

Movement away from the midline of the body in the coronal plane

Movement toward the midline of the body in the coronal plane

Rotation of the forearm so that the palm faces posteriorly (downward when prone)

Rotation of the forearm so that the palm faces anteriorly (upward when supine)

A crystalline calcium-phosphate mineral providing hardness and compressive strength to bone (65% of dry bone weight)

A bone-forming cell that produces the organic matrix (collagen) of bone

The production of all blood cells (red cells, white cells, platelets) in the red bone marrow

Haematopoietic tissue found in spongy bone of flat bones and epiphyses, responsible for blood cell production

Fat-filled marrow in the medullary cavity of adult long bone diaphyses, capable of reverting to red marrow in emergencies