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1 Terminology

Anatomy requires a clinical vocabulary that defines position, Regions of the body are defined by using the original Latin or
movements, relationships, and planes of reference. By conven- Greek terms, although current usage in English-speaking countries
tion, anatomical descriptions of the human body are based on a uses more familiar terms. Regardless, some of the original terms
person standing in the “anatomical position.” This position is are still used and seen in textbooks. The images on Plate 1-1
defined as: show some of the major regions and specific areas of the human
• Standing erect and facing forward body that are commonly used in anatomy and clinical settings.
• Arms hanging at the sides, palms facing forward
• Legs placed together, feet slightly apart and directed forward

COLOR  the major regions, beginning with the head and

working inferiorly to the lower limb, using a different color for
each region:
n 1. Head (cephalon)
n 2. Neck (cervicis)
n 3. Thorax (chest)
n 4. Abdomen
n 5. Pelvis
n 6. Upper limb
n 7. Lower limb

Plate 1-1 See Netter’s Clinical Anatomy, 3rd Edition, Figure 1-1 Orientation and Introduction
 booksmedicos.org

Terminology 1

Forehead
Cheek (buccal)
1
Otic (ear)
Nasus (nose)
Oris (mouth)
2
Mentis (chin)
Shoulder
3

Mamma Dorsum (back)

Axilla (armpit) (breast)
Brachium (arm)
4 Trunk Loin

Umbilicus Olecranon
Antebrachium 6 (back of
(forearm) (navel)
elbow)

5
Carpus
(wrist)
Pollex Manus
(thumb) (hand)

Palm
(palmar) Gluteus (buttocks)
Digits Groin
(fingers)
Thigh Pubis
7 Popliteus
Patella (kneecap) (back of knee)

Calf
Crus (leg)

Calcaneus
(heel of foot)
Tarsus (ankle)
Pes (foot)
Plantus
(sole of foot)

Digits (toes) Halux (great toe)

B. Posterior

A. Anterior

Netter’s Anatomy Coloring Book Plate 1-1

 扯潫獭敤楣潳⹯牧

1 Body Planes and Terms of Relationship

Anatomical descriptions are referenced to one of four body

planes that pass through the human body in anatomical position. TERM DESCRIPTION
The four planes include the following: Anterior (ventral) Nearer the front
• The median plane, also known as the median sagittal or Posterior (dorsal) Nearer the back
midsagittal plane, is a vertical plane that passes through the
Superior (cranial) Upward or nearer the head
center of the body, dividing it into equal right and left halves.
Inferior (caudal) Downward or nearer the feet
• Sagittal planes, other than the median sagittal plane, are
­vertical planes that are parallel to the median sagittal plane Medial Toward the midline or median plane

and are often called parasagittal planes. Lateral Farther from the midline or median plane
• Frontal planes, also known as the coronal planes, are vertical Proximal Near to a reference point
planes that pass through the body and divide it into anterior Distal Away from a reference point
(front) and posterior (back) sections.
Superficial Closer to the surface
• Transverse planes, also known as cross sections, horizontal, or
Deep Farther from the surface
axial planes, are planes that are at right angles to the sagittal
and frontal planes and divide the body into superior and Median plane Divides body into equal right and left halves

inferior sections. Midsagittal plane Median plane

Sagittal plane Divides body into unequal right and left halves
Also, when anatomists or physicians refer to right and left, it Frontal (coronal) plane Divides body into equal or unequal anterior and
is always the person or patient’s right and left side that we are posterior parts
referring to, NOT your right or left side. Transverse plane Divides body into equal or unequal superior and
inferior parts (cross sections or axial sections)

COLOR  the three planes shown on the figure using different

colors.
n 1. Median plane (median sagittal)
n 2. Frontal plane
n 3. Transverse plane

Plate 1-2 See Netter’s Clinical Anatomy, 3rd Edition, Figure 1-2 Orientation and Introduction
 扯潫獭敤楣潳⹯牧

Body Planes and Terms of Relationship 1

A. Body Planes

B. Terms of Relationship
Superior
Right Left
3

Cranial

Medial Lateral

Proximal

Dorsal or
posterior Proximal

Distal

Caudal

Ventral or anterior

Distal
Inferior

Netter’s Anatomy Coloring Book Plate 1-2

 扯潫獭敤楣潳⹯牧

1 Movements

Body movements occur at the joints, the points of articulation

­between two or more adjacent skeletal elements. Generally,
n   5. Flexion (F) and extension (E) at the elbow
when we refer to body movements we are focusing on move- n   6. Flexion (F) and extension (E) at the wrist
ments about a joint that occur from the contraction (physical n   7. Pronation (P): rotation of the radius about the ulna
shortening) of skeletal muscle. These contractions result in the in the forearm causes the palm to face posteriorly
movement of a limb, the bending of the spine, the fine move- (in anatomical position) or inferiorly (if hand held
ments of our fingers, or the tensing of our vocal cords for speak- forward with the palm upward)
ing (phonation). Of course, many other types of movements also n   7. Supination (S): opposite of pronation; causes the
occur throughout the body, but the major movements about the palm to face anteriorly or superiorly
joints are highlighted in the following list and illustrated.
n   8. Flexion (F) and extension (E) at the knee joint
n   9. Circumduction (C): movement in space that
COLOR  the circle on the images corresponding to the circumscribes a circle or cone about a joint
numbered movement in the following list, using a different (circumduction of the lower limb at the hip joint is
color for each movement. Note that the letter abbreviation illustrated)
of the movement (e.g., F = flexion) is shown in the circle and
corresponds to the key in the list below.
n 10. Dorsiflexion (DF): lifting the foot at the ankle joint
(similar to extension at the wrist, but at the ankle it
n   1. Abduction (AB): movement away from a central is referred to as dorsiflexion rather than extension)
reference point
n 10. Plantarflexion (PF): a downward movement or
n   1. Adduction (AD): movement toward a central depression of the foot at the ankle (similar to wrist
reference point; the opposite of abduction flexion)
n   1. Lateral rotation (L): turning a bone or limb around n 11. Eversion (EV): movement of the sole of the foot
its long axis laterally or away from the midline laterally
n   1. Medial rotation (M): opposite of lateral rotation; n 11. Inversion (I): movement of the sole of the foot
turning medially toward the midline medially
n   2. Flexion (F): usually a movement that decreases the n 12. Retraction (R): posterior displacement of a portion
joint’s angle of the body without a change in angular movement
n   2. Extension (E): usually a movement that increases n 12. Protraction (PT): anterior displacement of a portion
the joint’s angle; the opposite of flexion of the body without a change in angular movement
n   3. Elevation (EL): lifting superiorly, as in shrugging
your shoulders
n   3. Depression (D): a movement of a portion of the body
inferiorly
n   4. Flexion (F) and extension (E) of the spine (as it
relates to the spine, flexion decreases the angle
between the vertebral bodies and extension
increases this angle). When we bend forward we
flex our spine, and when we bend backward to arch
our back we are extending our spine.

Plate 1-3 See Netter’s Clinical Anatomy, 3rd Edition, Figure 1-3 Orientation and Introduction
 扯潫獭敤楣潳⹯牧

Movements 1

EL
F

AB L
E D
AD
M

3
AD
F
AB

M L E
1 2

S P
E F
7

6 F
F

5 E
4

8 E

DF
EV I
R PT
C

10 PF 11 12
9

Netter’s Anatomy Coloring Book Plate 1-3