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0.2. Basic Anatomy (II)
Orientation
The six terms above also help us to orientate the human body as a whole. The anterior of the human body is what we would casually call our ‘front’ and the posterior of the human body is what we’d call our ‘back’. The head is the most superior structure and the feet are the most inferior structure. The thumbs are the most lateral structures (remember: we are talking about the human body in the anatomical position) and the nasal septum and sternum are examples of the most medial structures (in fact, these structures are so medial they can be called median, because they are in the midline).
Planes
In anatomy, when we are examining the whole body, we don’t look at it from just any angle. We tend to look at it from one of three places. When we look from these places, we are actually looking at a particular plane of the body. By using planes, we get a better and more consistent understanding of the 3D nature of the body. Below are the places we look from and the planes of the body we are looking at:
These planes might not seem particularly important, but they are used all the time in CT and MRI scans. Consider looking at a CT scan of the abdomen in the transverse. A CT scanner will produce images from top-to-bottom of the body. After looking at a few images, you will see the stomach and liver. As you look at more images and move further down the body (i.e. as you move inferiorly) you will see the small intestine and the large intestine.
It’s important to note that the midline of the human body is often considered as the mid-sagittal plane, i.e. think of an imaginary flat rectangle that runs from the vertebral column all the way to the sternum. This is the mid-sagittal plane and defines the midline of the body.
- Looking from the front or behind = coronal / frontal plane.
- Looking from below or above = transverse plane.
- Looking from either side = sagittal plane.
These planes might not seem particularly important, but they are used all the time in CT and MRI scans. Consider looking at a CT scan of the abdomen in the transverse. A CT scanner will produce images from top-to-bottom of the body. After looking at a few images, you will see the stomach and liver. As you look at more images and move further down the body (i.e. as you move inferiorly) you will see the small intestine and the large intestine.
It’s important to note that the midline of the human body is often considered as the mid-sagittal plane, i.e. think of an imaginary flat rectangle that runs from the vertebral column all the way to the sternum. This is the mid-sagittal plane and defines the midline of the body.
Others…
Other important positional anatomical terms include:
- Proximal - towards the centre of the body.
- Distal - away from the centre of the body.
- Ventral - pretty much has the same meaning as 'anterior' but in the nervous system has a more specific meaning (see accompanying diagram).
- Dorsal - pretty much has the same meaning as 'anterior' but in the nervous system has a more specific meaning (see accompanying diagram) - if you get stuck, think of the dorsal fin of a shark is on it's back!
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