1. The document describes anatomical directional terms including anterior, posterior, medial, lateral, superior, inferior, proximal, and distal. 2. It also defines the anatomical position as standing upright with face forward and arms at sides. 3. The three planes are described as the sagittal plane dividing the body into right and left, the transverse plane dividing the body into superior and inferior, and the frontal plane dividing the body into anterior and posterior portions.

1. Notes: Directional Terms (pg 8)

2. Notes: Directional Terms (pg 8)
Anatomical Position: Standing upright, face and
feet forward, arms at sides with palms facing
forward

3. Body Cavities
• Dorsal cavity: Contains brain and spinal cord

4. Body Cavities
• Dorsal cavity: Contains brain and spinal cord
• Ventral cavity: Contains thoracic (chest) cavity
and abdominal cavity

5. Directions in the Body
• Superior = Above
(closer to the head)
• Inferior = Below (closer
to the feet)

6. Directions in the Body
• Superior = Above
(closer to the head)
• Anterior = toward the
front (ventral)
• Inferior = Below (closer
to the feet)
• Posterior = toward the
back (dorsal)

7. Directions in the Body
• Superior = Above
(closer to the head)
• Anterior = toward the
front (ventral)
• Medial = near the
midline of the body
• Inferior = Below (closer
to the feet)
• Posterior = toward the
back (dorsal)
• Lateral = near the side
of the body

8. Directions in the Body
• Superior = Above
(closer to the head)
• Anterior = toward the
front (ventral)
• Medial = near the
midline of the body
• Proximal = close to a
point of attachment
• Inferior = Below (closer
to the feet)
• Posterior = toward the
back (dorsal)
• Lateral = near the side
of the body
• Distal = far from a point
of attachment

9. Directions in the Body
• Superior = Above
(closer to the head)
• Anterior = toward the
front (ventral)
• Medial = near the
midline of the body
• Proximal = close to a
point of attachment
• Superficial = near the
surface
• Inferior = Below (closer
to the feet)
• Posterior = toward the
back (dorsal)
• Lateral = near the side
of the body
• Distal = far from a point
of attachment
• Deep = away from the
surface

10. Using directional terms
• Terms describe the position of a part relative
to another part
• Incorrect: The heart is superior
• Correct: The heart is superior to the intestines

11. Output (pg 9)
Describe the classroom using the directional
terms (1 sentence per term)
Example: The pencil sharpener is lateral to the
desks

12. Partner Activity
• One person will point to a body part. The
other will say whether that part is:
superior/inferior
anterior/posterior
lateral/medial
Relative to the person’s nose
Then switch partners. Repeat for 5 body parts
each

13. Planes (pg 8)

14. Planes
• Sagittal plane: vertical plane that divides the
body into right and left sides

15. Planes
• Sagittal plane: vertical plane that divides the
body into right and left sides
• Transverse plane: horizontal plane that divides
the body into superior and inferior portions
(cross section)

16. Planes
• Sagittal plane: vertical plane that divides the
body into right and left sides
• Transverse plane: horizontal plane that divides
the body into superior and inferior portions
(cross section)
• Frontal (coronal) plane: vertical plane that
divides the body into anterior and posterior
portions

18. Activity
• Use the modeling clay to sculpt a small
elephant (each person makes their own)
• When finished, call me over to your table and
show me the sagittal, transverse, and frontal
planes