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Lab Group Members
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Human Anatomy & Physiology I
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Lab Worksheet 0
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Body Planes / Body Regions / Orientations
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Objective:
To learn the anatomical planes, directional terms, and regions of the body.
Materials:
Human body, anatomy text.
Body Planes
The physical world has three dimensions: height, width, and depth. A plane is a two-dimensional slice through
the three-dimensional world. There are an infinite number of planes, and orientations of planes. In anatomy,
there are names for a few of the infinite number of planes. The three cardinal body planes are sagittal, frontal
(coronal), and transverse (horizontal). These planes are orthogonal (at right angles) to one another and
important for understanding and describing orientation, joint motion, exercises, injuries, and deformities.
When viewing an object (such as the body) from a single point of view, one can distinguish 2 out of 3 possible
dimensions. The third dimension is obscured because distance along the line of sight cannot be determined.
(Consider an x-ray.) The dimensions that can and cannot be seen depend on one’s point of view, as follows:
Viewing the frontal plane: Can’t distinguish anterior/posterior differences. Can see differences in
superior/inferior (or proximal/distal, along a limb in the anatomical position) and medial/lateral
(right/left) directions.
Viewing the sagittal plane: Can’t distinguish medial/lateral (right/left) differences. Can see differences in
superior/inferior (or proximal/distal, along a limb in the anatomical position) and anterior/posterior
directions.
Viewing the transverse plane: Can’t distinguish superior/inferior differences. Can see differences in
anterior/posterior and medial/lateral (right/left) directions.
Superior/inferior is commonly used when referring to structures in the trunk, head, and neck. Proximal/distal is
commonly used when referring to structures along the extremities.
Exercise: 3-Dimensional Observation
1. Observe an individual in anatomical position from anterior looking toward posterior.
a. What plane are you primarily observing?
b. Which two dimensions do you observe the best with this view (superior/inferior, medial/lateral,
anterior/posterior)?
2. Observe an individual in anatomical position from the right or left side.
a. What plane are you primarily observing?
b. Which two dimensions do you observe the best with this view (sup./inf., med./lat., ant./post.)?
3. Observe an individual in anatomical position from the top. (Stand on a chair if necessary.)
a. What plane are you primarily observing?
b. Which two dimensions do you observe the best with this view (sup./inf., med./lat., ant./post.)?
4. What point of view (transverse/frontal/sagittal) would you choose to measure a subject’s range of motion
for rotation of the neck about its axis (right/left head twist)? Where do you position yourself relative to the
subject?
5. What point of view would you choose to measure a subject’s range of motion for abduction and adduction
of the arm at the shoulder? Where do you position yourself relative to the subject?
6. What point of view would you choose to measure a subject’s range of motion for flexion/extension of the
thigh at the hip? Where do you position yourself relative to the subject?
7. What point of view would you choose to measure the principal joint movements during running or walking,
if you could only observe from one position?
Body Regions
Quiz one another on the following regions.
Sternal
Thoracic
Abdominal
Umbilical
Acromial
Axillary
Brachial
Antecubital Fossa
Antebrachial
Carpal
Pollex
Palmer
Digital (fingers)
Coxal
Femoral
Patellar
Leg (Crural)
Fibular
Tarsal
Digital (toes)
Hallux
Vertebral
Scapular
Lumbar
Sacral
Gluteal
Popliteal
Calf (Sural)
Calcaneal
Plantar
Orientation
Use correct terminology to identify the relative position of the following regions (A relative to B). Consider
each of the cardinal planes. Assume the anatomical position. Examples follow:
Sternal region relative to sacral region:
Frontal plane view: Superior. Not different in the medial/lateral dimension, since both are primarily
mid-sagittal.
Sagittal plane view: Superior and slightly anterior.
Transverse plane view: Slightly anterior. .Not different in the medial/lateral dimension, since both are
primarily mid-sagittal.
Calcaneal region relative to patellar region:
Frontal plane view: Distal (inferior).
Sagittal plane view: Distal (inferior) and slightly posterior.
Transverse plane view: Slightly posterior.
Region A relative to Region B
lumbar spine
left scapular
patellar
calcaneal
right mammary sacral
left coxal
sternal
right gluteal
umbilical
Frontal View
Sagittal View
Transverse View