Anatomical Position And Directional Terms - Anatomical Terms - Directional Terms Anatomy

In this video we discuss the anatomical directional terms, which is a directional language used to reference points or areas of the human body.

Anatomical directional terms

A directional language of anatomy exists in order to minimize confusion when discussing areas or specific points on the body. This directional language or terminology is used in reference to the anatomical position. The anatomical position is when a person stands erect, face pointing forward, arms at the side, palms facing forward and feet also pointing forward. If everyone is looking at the body in the exact same position, there will be less confusion when discussing anything related to anatomy.

We are going to start with superior and inferior. Superior means toward the head, but it can also mean upper of above. Inferior means toward the feet, but it can also mean lower or below. So we would say the heart is located superior to the small intestine, or we could say the small intestine is located inferior to the heart.

Next is anterior and posterior. Anterior means further to the front, or in front of. Posterior means further to the back, or in back of. So, we would say the lungs are anterior to the spine, or we could say the spine is posterior to the lungs. Sometimes the terms ventral and dorsal are used in place of anterior and posterior, where ventral means anterior and dorsal means posterior.

Anterior and posterior can also be used to describe how you are looking at the body. While the body will always be referenced from the anatomical position, it can be viewed from an anterior view, meaning looking at the body from the front, and it can be viewed from the posterior view, meaning looking at it from the back.

Medial and lateral are another set of directional terms. Medial means toward the midline of the body, and lateral means toward the side of the body, or away from the midline of the body. Where the midline is an imaginary line that divides the body into left and right halves. So, we would say the heart lies medial to the lungs, or you could say the lungs lie lateral to the heart.

Lateral can also be used to describe how you are looking at the body. While the body will always be referenced from the anatomical position, it can be viewed from a lateral view, meaning looking at the body from the side.

Next is proximal and distal. Proximal and distal are terms that are usually used when describing parts of the appendicular body. Remember that the axial body consists of the head, neck and trunk, and the appendicular body consists of the limbs or appendages that are added to the axial body. Proximal means closer to the axial body, or toward the trunk of the body and distal means further from the axial body, or further from the trunk of the body. So, we would say the thigh is proximal to the leg, or you could say the leg is distal to the thigh.

Superficial and deep are another set of directional terms. Superficial means closer to the surface of the body, and deep means further away from the surface of the body. So, we would say the sternum is superficial to the lungs, or the lungs are deep to the sternum. Remember this is the case when we are looking at the body from the front or anterior view, when it is in the anatomical position.

Timestamps
0:00 What is the anatomical position?
0:33 Superior and inferior
0:54 Anterior and posterior
1:11 Ventral and dorsal
1:21 Anterior and posterior view of the body
1:36 Medial and lateral
2:01 Lateral view of the body
2:11 Proximal and distal
2:44 Superficial and deep

[badalmili]

Directional languages are used to minimise confusion...but the irony is i get more confused😂🤣

[lesldl]

My class only meets once a week for our lab and the lecture portion are videos of our professor talking for 2+ hours. You're saving my life. Also, WAY better than the textbook explanation. Thank you!!!

[Sham-e-Ishq-K]

Sir boht achy sy smjaya ap ny keep it up😄

[AndreMazzeo-ib]

What's the difference between anterior/posterior and proximal/distal?

[mwdediw]

is it possible to say " thigh is superior to knee instead of thigh is proximal to knee " ? and " knee is inferior to thigh instead of knee is distal ?

[anniecortez]

This directional term was drive me nuts., I understand better with your video rather than to listened to my teacher with a very heavy accent 😜

[claudiasaboia]

terms like distal and proximal very confusing to understand, but the rest awesome thank u

[bevis]

Ugh thank you so much for your work, this covered my entire 2 hour class in a way that is clear and easier to understand.

[ashapn]

When he say minimise confusion I hear it like maximise confusion 😂😐

[RegularZombieLad]

My anatomy textbook was confusing me but you explained it so clearly. Thank you!

[silas]

Bruh your videos are awesome for me as a visual learner with ADHD. The fact that you can accurately describe and illustrate everything in less than four minutes is amazing and super helpful.

[svarholtperformance]

Thanks! Seriously thanks! I’m studying for a entrance exam to the massage academy and this video made EVERYTHING 100% clear. A video is always better than a book or an image and sometimes even better than classes. I see a lot of people writing like: ”You explained in 3 min what my teacher couldn’t explain in 2 hours.”

[bobbyraj]

Finally my lateral, dorsal and ventral confusion went their ways..!! Thank you

[samuelf]

You did a great job explaining but these terms are stupid and complicated

[sakshisihankan]

Thanks sir i am from india. U solve my all problem... ❤️❤️❤️👌👌👌

[advadhuta]

Brilliant. Informative. Concise and easy to understand. Thank you for sharing this.

[somebodyoncetoldme]

you say minimize confusion but this feels very confusing

[daniaqistina]

really helps me to understand anatomical subject, at first it's a bit confusing but thank you I understood it clearly🌈

[Y-hszn]

Anatomical Position
when a person stands erect, his face pointing forward, arms at the sides, palms facing forward and feet also pointing forward


Superior: Forward the head / Upper / Above
Inferior: Forward the feet / Lower / Below
The heart is located superior to the small intestines and the small intestines is located inferior to the heart


Interior ‘Ventral’: Further to the front / In front of
Posterior ‘Dorsal’: Further to the back / In back of
The sternum is interior to the heart and the heart is posterior to the sternum


Medial: Toward the midline of the body
Lateral: Toward the side of the body or away from the midline of the body
The heart lies medial to the lungs, and the lungs lies lateral to the heart


Proximal: Used when describing parts of the appendicular body
Closer to the axial body / Toward the trunk of the body
Distal: Used when describing parts of the appendicular body
Further from the axial body / Further from the trunk of the body
The thigh is proximal to the foot, and the foot is distal to the thigh


Superficial: Closer to the surface of the body
Deep: Further from the surface of the body
The sternum is superficial to the lungs, and lungs are deep to the sternum

[ethanmakasa]

Pairs like superficial and deep are really similar to anterior and posterior respectively but have a slight difference when it comes to the relation of skin surface . You can get confused a bit cause they seem the same primarily when you use the standard view (anterior view)