This document provides definitions of anatomical terms used to describe the human body including anterior/ventral, posterior/dorsal, medial, proximal, lateral, distal, and cephalic/superior. It also defines the basic units that make up living organisms from cells to tissues to organs to organ systems and organisms.

1. HUMAN ANATOY

3. HUMAN ANATOMY
ANTERIOR/VENTRAL- front of the
body
POSTERIOR/DORSAL- back part of the
body
MEDIAL-towards to middle.
PROXIMAL- from point of origin.
LATERAL-away to midline. Lateral is
the side of the body or part of the
body that is away from the middle.
DISTAL-end point of origin.
CEPHALO/SUPERIOR-towards the
head.

6. Cell
smallest independently functioning unit of all organisms
tissue
group of similar or closely related cells that act together to perform a specific function
Organs
functionally distinct structure composed of two or more types of tissues
organ system
group of organs that work together to carry out a particular function
organism
living being that has a cellular structure and that can independently perform all physiologic functions necessary for
life