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Human Body Study

Superior view

The superior view is the body in anatomical position seen from directly above, looking down at the top of the head. The small nose triangle points “up” so the orientation is unambiguous: the side with the nose is anterior.

The body in anatomical position, superior view A schematic of a person seen from directly above — head circle inside the shoulder oval, with a small nose triangle pointing "up" to mark anterior. Anterior/posterior and medial/lateral are arrows in the plane of the page; superior and inferior are marked with circle-dot and circle-cross badges, since they point out of and into the page. Superior view from above Anterior Posterior Lateral Lateral Medial (midline) Superior Inferior The body extends below the page, into the distance. Superior/Inferior point out of and into the page.

What it shows

Section titled “What it shows”
  • Anterior / posterior — vertical axis on the page; anterior is toward the nose.
  • Medial / lateral — horizontal arrows from the midline outward; “lateral” is the same direction on both sides.
  • Superior — a ⊙ out of the page, toward the viewer (the top of the head).
  • Inferior — a ⊗ into the page, away from the viewer (the feet, far below).

Key idea

Section titled “Key idea”

Looking down at the body collapses superior/inferior into a single point — that’s why this view is the one used to draw cross-sections through the chest, abdomen, and brain.