Anatomical position

The anatomicanatomical position also referred to as the standard anatomicanatomical position, is the consistent position of the human body in which positional reference is made for anatomical nomenclature. It is not reliant on whether the patient is standing, supine, prone, sitting, etc.

The position is defined as if the body is standing erect (hips and knees extended), head facing forward, eyes open and looking directly forwards and mouth closed. The arms are by the sides (shoulders adducted), the palms are facing forward (elbows extended and wrists supinated), and the feet parallel and together. In this position, the radius and ulna are parallel. Interestingly, due to the effect of gravity, the anatomicanatomical location of viscera is described when the patient is supine (e.g. surface anatomy of the liver).

The penis is described with the flaccid phallus against the anterior abdominal wall, the dorsal surface contacts the abdominal wall and the ventral surface faces anteriorly.

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AnatomicAnatomical planes

The anatomicanatomical planes are expressed in relation to the anatomicanatomical position when standing. The three standards (orthogonal) planes are perpendicular to each other and are:

• the axial plane (transverse or transaxial plane): horizontal plane perpendicular to the long axis of the body
• the sagittal plane: vertical plane parallel to the median plane (or midsaggitalmidsagittal plane which divides the body into two halves); derives its name from the cranial sagittal suture
• the coronal plane: vertical plane perpendicular to the median plane; derives its name from the cranial coronal suture

AnatomicAnatomical relations

AnatomicAnatomical description (adjectives) in regards to relationships are referenced to the anatomicanatomical position, in that:

• anterior: towards the front of the body (Latin: before)
• posterior: towards the back of the body (Latin: after)
• superior: towards the top of the body (Latin: above)
• inferior: towards the bottom of the body (Latin: below)
• medial: towards the midline (Latin: middle)
  • compared with median which is in the midline rather than towards the midline
• lateral: away from the midline (Latin: side)
• proximal: towards the centre of the body (Latin: near)
• distal: away from the centre of the body (Latin: far)
• superficial: towards the surface of the body
• deep: away from the surface of the body

Other older or traditional terms are still in use today, some of which are particularly relevant in embryology and include:

• dorsal: superior or posterior, can be used in structures that protrude away from the body (such as the tongue, penis, nose, hand and foot); an embryological term that describes a structure's position during development which may be altered from the end position after development
• ventral: anterior
• caudal: towards the tail (feet); an embryological term derived from vertebrates with tails
• cephalad: towards the head (a.k.a. craniad)
• rostral: anterior; used in brain development
• volar, palmar: anterior, used in relation to the hand
• plantar: sole of the foot
• radial: radial aspect of the forearm
• ulnar: ulnar aspect of the forearm
• tibial: tibial aspect of the anatomical leg
• fibular: fibular aspect of the anatomical leg
• internal: medial aspect of the body (e.g. internal carotid artery)
• external: lateral aspect of the body (e.g. external carotid artery)

Dental anatomy

• mesial, distal: medial and lateral with regards to any tooth
• buccal: anterior surface of the tooth, the surface facing the cheek
• palatal: posterior surface of a maxillary tooth, the surface facing the inside of the mouth
• lingual: posterior surface of a mandibular tooth, the surface facing the inside of the mouth

Laterality

• unilateral: one side of the body
• bilateral: both sides of the body
• ipsilateral: on the same side of the body
• contralateral: on the opposite side of the body 
• left and right are used to differentiate between paired body parts

Movement

Movement of parts of the body is described in relation to the anatomicanatomical position. They occur in opposing pairs and include:

• flexion: decrease in the angle of the joint
• extension: increase in the angle of the joint
• abduction: movement of limb away from midline
• adduction: movement of limb towards the midline
• pronation: movement of hand and forearm to bring the palm facing posterior
• supination: movement of hand and forearm to bring the palm facing anterior
• circumduction: circular movement of a joint using a combination of flexion, abduction, extension, and adduction such that the distal limb describes a circle
• medial/internal rotation: rotational motion of a limb medially
• lateral/external rotation: rotational motion of a limb laterally
• ulnar deviation: medial movement of the wrist towards the midline
• radial deviation: lateral movement of the wrist away from the midline
• opposition: thumb brought to oppose another digit
• reposition: thumb repositioned back to the anatomicanatomical position
• elevation: movement of the scapula superiorly
• depression: movement of the scapula inferiorly
• version: degree of forward/backward tilt (anteversion and retroversion, respectively); used with the following anatomical structures:
  • tilt of the uterus
    • in around 75% of women, the uterus is anteverted (i.e. tilted forward)
    • in the remaining 25%, it is retroverted (i.e. tilted backward)
  • the difference (in angles) between femoral neck axis and transcondylar axis of knee
    • regarding the femoral neck, the terms anteversion and retroversion are used for describing pathological tilt, usually of developmental etiology
• eversion: movement of the sole of the foot away from the median plane
• inversion: movement of the sole of the foot towards the median plane
• protrusion: movement of the mandible, lips or tongue anteriorly
• retraction: (retrusion) movement of the mandible, lips or tongue posteriorly

AnatomicAnatomical terminology

The Terminologia Anatomica is the global standard for correct gross anatomical nomenclature.