ANSC 2340 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Sagittal Plane, Transverse Plane, Median Plane
14 Jan 2017
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TEXTBOOK READINGS NOTES
Chapter 1: Intro to Anatomy and Physiology (p.1-10) – Jan 11th/17
Anatomy – form and structure of the body and its parts; what things look like, where they are
located
Physiology – functions of the body and its parts; how things work, what they do
Microscopic anatomy – structures so small we need a microscope to see clearly
Macroscopic anatomy – (aka. gross anatomy) body parts large enough to be seen with the
unaided eye
Regional anatomy – individual regions of the body, all components of each region of the body
are examined
Systemic anatomy – individual systems of the body
Four atomic planes of reference
Sagittal plane – runs the length of the body and divides it into left and right parts that are not
necessarily equal halves
Median plane – runs down the center of the body lengthwise and divides it into equal left and
right halves
Transverse plane – plane across the body that divides it into cranial and caudal parts that are
not necessarily equal
Dorsal plane – a plane at right angles to sagittal and transverse plans, divides body into dorsal
and ventral parts that are not necessarily equal
Directional Terms
Cranial – towards the head (superior in humans)
Caudal – towards the tail (inferior in humans)
Xiphoid process – caudal end of the sternum
Rostral – special term used only to describe positions or directions on the head, means towards
the tip of the nose
Dorsal – towards the back (top surface) of a standing animal (posterior in humans)
Ventral – towards the belly (bottom surface) of a standing animal (anterior in humans)
Medial – towards the median plant (toward the center line of the body)
Lateral – away from the median plane
Deep – towards the center of the body (aka internal)
Superficial – towards the surface of the body (aka external)
Proximal – describes positions only on extremities, means towards the body
Distal – describes positions only on extremities, means away from body
Proximal-distal dividing line for the front leg is the proximal end of the carpus
Proximal-distal dividing line for the rear leg is the proximal end of the tarsus
Palmar surface – back surface of the front leg from the carpus distally
Plantar surface – back of the hind leg from the tarsus distally
Common Regional Terms
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Chapter 1: intro to anatomy and physiology (p. 1-10) jan 11th/17. Anatomy form and structure of the body and its parts; what things look like, where they are located. Physiology functions of the body and its parts; how things work, what they do. Microscopic anatomy structures so small we need a microscope to see clearly. Macroscopic anatomy (aka. gross anatomy) body parts large enough to be seen with the unaided eye. Regional anatomy individual regions of the body, all components of each region of the body are examined. Systemic anatomy individual systems of the body. Sagittal plane runs the length of the body and divides it into left and right parts that are not necessarily equal halves. Median plane runs down the center of the body lengthwise and divides it into equal left and right halves. Transverse plane plane across the body that divides it into cranial and caudal parts that are not necessarily equal.
