Anatomical Terminology & Planes of the Body
Start with the big picture
The lesson begins with the anatomical position: standing upright, facing forward, arms at the sides, palms forward, and feet together. From this reference, paired directional terms describe where structures are located, while bilateral, ipsilateral, and contralateral specify how locations relate across the body. The major anatomical planes divide the body in different orientations, and their associated axes help organize movement terminology. The topic also introduces common movements, surface terms for the hand and foot, embryologic axes, and the line of gravity as a basis for posture analysis. Together, these concepts support clear communication in anatomical and clinical contexts, including imaging orientation.
What you'll learn
- Describe the standard anatomical position and its role as a reference for directional terms.
- Distinguish common directional pairs and terms describing laterality.
- Identify major body planes and the divisions they create.
- Relate selected movements to their planes or axes.
- Recognize surface terms, embryologic axes, and the line of gravity.
Continue your study
Work through the complete notes and reinforce the topic with the study tools available in the full lesson.
