What is the superficial of the body?
Superficial describes a position closer to the surface of the body. The skin is superficial to the bones. Deep describes a position farther from the surface of the body. The brain is deep to the skull.
What is an example of superficial in the body?
Superficial is used to describe structures that are closer to the exterior surface of the body. For example, the outer layers of skin are superficial to deeper layers of skin. Proximal and Distal describe one point relative to another.
What is the most superficial in the body?
Epidermis
Epidermis. The epidermis is the most superficial layer of the skin and provides the first barrier of protection from the invasion of substances into the body. The epidermis is subdivided into five layers or strata: stratum basale.
What are the directional terms of the body?
Anatomical Directional Terms
- Anterior: In front of, front.
- Posterior: After, behind, following, toward the rear.
- Distal: Away from, farther from the origin.
- Proximal: Near, closer to the origin.
- Dorsal: Near the upper surface, toward the back.
- Ventral: Toward the bottom, toward the belly.
- Superior: Above, over.
What does the term superficial mean in anatomy?
In anatomy, superficial is a directional term that indicates one structure is located more externally than another, or closer to the surface of the body.
Which is superficial the spine or the skin?
Superficial Anatomy of the Back and Core. For example, the spine is deep in the body, while the skin is superficial. The term superficial is a relative one. This means it is not limited to structures on the very outside of the body, such as the skin or eyes. Instead, it’s all about what is located where relative to other structures.
What is the difference between superficial and deep?
In anatomy, superficial is a directional term that indicates one structure is located more externally than another, or closer to the surface of the body. The opposite of superficial is deep. For example, the spine is deep in the body, while the skin is superficial.
Which is closer to the surface of the body superficial or distal?
Distal describes a position in a limb that is farther from the point of attachment or the trunk of the body. The crus is distal to the femur. Superficial describes a position closer to the surface of the body. The skin is superficial to the bones. Deep describes a position farther from the surface of the body.