Download Anterior Toward the front Ventral On the belly side Superficial On or

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SUMMARY
FIGURE 14–6 ◆
The body in anatomical
position
Anterior
Toward the front
Ventral
On the belly side
Superficial
On or near
the surface
Deep
Distant from
the surface
Superior
Upper portion
Dorsal
On the back side
superficial On or near the
surface of the body
deep Distant from the surface
Posterior
Toward the back
of the body
Inferior
Lower portion
or ventral side. The back, containing the spine (backbone), is called the posterior or
dorsal side. The areas of the body closer to the head are called superior. Those closer to
the feet are called inferior. These terms may also be used to describe the position of an
organ in the body.
ventral On the abdominal,
anterior, or front side of the
body
posterior Located in the
back or toward the rear
dorsal Refers to the back or to
SUMMARY
the back part of an organ
superior The upper portion of
the body
The study of anatomy and physiology forms the basis for understanding the clinical procedures performed by nursing assistants. The cell is the basic building block of the human body.
Cells combine to form tissues, and tissues combine to form organs. Organs that perform similar tasks work together as systems. When a person becomes ill or is involved in an accident,
body structures may be damaged and their functions disrupted. Remember when you look
at a patient in anatomical position your right is the patient’s left. The terms anterior or ventral,
posterior or dorsal, superior, and inferior are used to describe areas of the body and the position of organs.
inferior The lower portion of
the body