Where is anterior

Skip to main content. Search for:. The structure that is superior to another is above the second structure when the body is in anatomical position.

A feature that is inferior to another is below the second feature when the body is in anatomical position. Usually used to orient the positions of structures and features along the limbs with respect to the trunk of the body. Less precisely but still occasionally used in the trunk of the body itself to indicate whether something is closer to proximal or farther away from distal something else. Used with respect to the midline of the trunk of a body in anatomical position.

A feature that is lateral to another is farther away from the midline of the trunk. A structure that is anterior to another is closer to the front of the body when the body is in anatomical position. A feature that is posterior to another is closer to the back of the body when the body is in anatomical position.

For a human in anatomical position, this pair of terms is equivalent to anterior and posterior. Sagittal Plane Lateral Plane - A vertical plane running from front to back; divides the body or any of its parts into right and left sides.

Axial Plane Transverse Plane - A horizontal plane; divides the body or any of its parts into upper and lower parts. Median plane - Sagittal plane through the midline of the body; divides the body or any of its parts into right and left halves. The cavities, or spaces, of the body contain the internal organs, or viscera. The two main cavities are called the ventral and dorsal cavities. The ventral is the larger cavity and is subdivided into two parts thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities by the diaphragm, a dome-shaped respiratory muscle.

The upper ventral, thoracic, or chest cavity contains the heart , lungs, trachea , esophagus , large blood vessels, and nerves. The thoracic cavity is bound laterally by the ribs covered by costal pleura and the diaphragm caudally covered by diaphragmatic pleura.

The lower part of the ventral abdominopelvic cavity can be further divided into two portions: abdominal portion and pelvic portion. The abdominal cavity contains most of the gastrointestinal tract as well as the kidneys and adrenal glands. Anterior can be determined by imagining the body sliced in half, from left to right.

Everything on the front slice is anterior, the tissue in the back slice is posterior. Posterior is the opposite of anterior and refers to the back of the body. The back of the hand and the sole of the foot are not pictured in the diagram, so they are posterior when described.

Anterior is also known as anatomical position, anterior-posterior, and an example is the anterior refers to the front of the body, so the face and abdomen are considered anterior body parts. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.

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