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Directional Terms
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Anatomy | The study of the structure of the body parts and their relationships to one another (i.e. gross/macroscopic, microscopic, developmental) |
| Physiology | The study of the normal functions of living organisms and their parts |
| Cytology (microscopic) | Study of the cell |
| Histology (microscopic) | study of tissues |
| Anatomical Position (A universal reference point) | Body erect, feet slightly apart, palms facing slightly forward, thumbs point away from body |
| Superior (Cranial) | Towards the head or upper part of a body structure; above |
| Inferior (Caudal) | Away from the head, toward the lower part of a body structure; below |
| Anterior (Ventral) | Toward or at the front of the body; in front of |
| Posterior (Dorsal) | Toward or at the back of the body; behind |
| Medial | Toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of |
| Lateral | Away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of |
| Intermediate | Between a more medial and a more lateral structure |
| Proximal | Closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk |
| Distal | Farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk |
| Superficial (external) | Toward or at the body surface |
| Deep (internal) | Away from the body surface; more internal |
| Body Planes | |
| Sagittal | divides the body into right and left parts |
| Midsagittal | sagittal plane that lies on the midline |
| Frontal or Coronal | divides the body into anterior and posterior parts |
| Transverse or horizontal (cross section) | divides the body into superior and inferior parts |
| Oblique section | cuts made diagonally |