What is Anatomy and Anatomical terminology – anatomical position, anterior, posterior, medial plane, laterals, internal, external

Anatomy: Anatomy is the study of the structure of body and of the relationship of its constituent parts to each other.















Anatomical position : Anatomical position is a standard body position in which the body is erect, face forward with the arms at the sides and the palms facing forwards and the feet only slightly apart.

Or

Anterior: Towards the front of the body.

  Ex: Nose is the anterior side of the body.

Posterior: Towards the back of the body.

  Ex: Vertebra is posterior to the heart.

Medial plane: Toward the mid line of the body.

  Ex: Heart is the medial of the lungs.

Lateral: Away from the mid line of the body.

    Ex: Forearm is the lateral of the abdomen.

Internal / deep: Away from the surface of the body.

   Ex: Brain

External: Towards the surface of the body.

Ex: Skin the external to the muscle.