Chapter 1: Introduction to Head and Neck Anatomy

anatomic nomenclature

system of names of anatomic structures

anatomic position

position in which the body is erect, with arms at the sides, palms and toes direct forward, and eyes looking forward

anterior

front of an area of the body

apex

pointed end of a conical structure

contralateral

structure on the opposite side of the body

deep

structure located inwards, away from the body surface

distal

area that is farther away from the median plane of the body

external

outer side of the wall of a hollow structure

frontal plane

plane created by an imaginary line that divides the body at any level into anterior and posterior parts

dorsal

back of an area of a body

frontal section

section of the body through any frontal plane

horizontal plane

plane created by an imaginary line that divides the body at any level into superior and inferior parts

inferior

area that faces away from the head and toward the feet of the body

internal

inner side of the wall of a hollow structure

ipsilateral

structure on the same side of the body

lateral

area that is farther away from the median plane of the body or structure

medial

area that is closer to the median plane of the body or structure

median

structure at the median plane

median plane

plane created by an imaginary line that divides the body into right and left halves

midsagittal section

section of the body through the median plane

posterior

back of an area of the body

proximal

area closer to the median plane of the body

sagittal plane

any plane of the body created by an imaginary plane parallel with the median plane

superficial

structure located towards the surface of the body

superior

area that faces toward the head of the body, away from the feet

transverse section

section of the body through any horizontal plane

ventral

front of an area of the body