Directions in anatomy
From EvoWiki
Anatomists have a specialized terminology for the direction and orientation of body parts. It was formalized in two major documents, the Nomina Anatomica (NA), and the Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria (NAV). The former, while widely accepted in nomenclature circles (particularly with regards to humans and other mammals), is believed by many to be ambiguous when applied to other tetrapods. It is for this reason that the NAV terminology has gained considerable ground, particularly in dinosaur paleontology.
NA Directions
- anterior - in front-back direction, towards the front.
- posterior - in front-back direction, towards the back.
- superior - in top-bottom direction, towards the top.
- inferior - in top-bottom direction, towards the bottom.
NAV Directions
- caudal - in head-tail direction, towards the tail.
- cranial - in head-tail direction, towards the head.
- rostral - on the head, towards the snout.
- ventral - in belly-backside direction, towards the belly.
- dorsal - in belly-backside direction, towards the backside.
- palmar - in direction on the hand, towards the surface in contact with the ground (toward the palm). Dorsal is used for the opposite direction.
- plantar - in direction on the foot, towards the surface in contact with the ground (toward the heel). Dorsal is used for the opposite direction.
Common to both NA and NAV
- distal - in direction along a leg, arm or tail, towards the foot, hand, or away from the body mass.
- proximal - in direction along a leg, arm or tail, away from the foot, hand or toward the body mass.
- lateral - in left-right direction, towards the outside.
- medial - in left-right direction, towards the inside.
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This page is part of the EvoWiki Encyclopedia of Anatomy and Physiology. |
