Anatomical Position, Directions, Regions, Planes, Cavities, & Quadrants

Language of Anatomy Special terminology is used to prevent

misunderstanding Exact terminology is used for:

Position Direction Regions Structures

Anatomical Position Standing erect, with

palms and feet facing forward

Is the standard reference point in which all positions, movements, and planes are described

Positions & Directions

Terms of position and direction describe the position of one body part relative to another, usually along one of the three major body planes

Superior Refers to a

structure being closer to the head or higher than another structure in the body

Inferior Refers to a

structure being closer to the feet or lower than another structure in the body

Anterior Refers to a

structure being more in front than another structure in the body

Posterior Refers to a

structure being more in back than another structure in the body

Medial Refers to a

structure being closer to the midline or median plane of the body than another structure of the body

Lateral Refers to a

structure being farther away from the midline than another structure of the body

Distal (Reference to the

extremities only) Refers to a structure

being further away from the root of the limb than another structure in the limb

Proximal (Reference to the

extremities only) Refers to a structure

being closer to the root of the limb than another structure in that limb

Superficial Refers to a

structure being closer to the surface of the body than another structure

Deep Refers to a

structure being closer to the core of the body than another structure

Ventral Towards the

front or belly

Dorsal Towards the

back

Prone Lying face down

Like a Pro Baseball player sliding into Home.

Supine Lying face up

Lying on your spine and you can have soup poured into your mouth.

Unilateral

Pertaining to one side of the body

Bilateral

Pertaining to both sides of the body

Anterior Body Landmarks Abdominal

Anterior body trunk inferior to ribs

Acromial Point of shoulder

Antebrachial Forearm

Antecubital Anterior surface of

elbow Axillary

Armpit

Brachial Arm

Buccal Cheek

Carpal Wrist

Cervical Neck

Coxal Hip

Anterior Body Landmarks Crural

Leg Deltoid

Curve of shoulder Digital

Fingers, toes Femoral

Thigh Fibular

Lateral part of leg Frontal

Forehead

Inguinal Groin

Mental Chin

Nasal Nose area

Oral Mouth

Orbital Eye area

Patellar Anterior knee

Anterior Body Landmarks Pelvic

Area overlying the pelvis anteriorly

Pubic Genital region

Sternal Breastbone area

Tarsal Ankle region

Thoracic Chest

Umbilical Navel

Anatomical Regions: Anterior

Posterior Body Landmarks Calcaneal

Heel of the foot Cephalic

Head Femoral

Thigh

Gluteal Buttock

Lumbar Area of back

between ribs and hip (loin)

Occipital Posterior surface of

head/base of skull

Posterior Body Landmarks Olecranal

Posterior surface of elbow

Popliteal Posterior knee

area Sacral

Area between hips

Scapular Shoulder blade

region Sural

Posterior surface of leg (calf)

Vertebral Area of spinal

column

Anatomical Regions: Posterior

Inferior Body Landmark Plantar

Sole of foot

Anatomical Planes

Fixed lines of reference along which the body is often divided or sectioned to facilitate viewing of its structures

Allow one to obtain a three-dimensional perspective by studying the body from different views

Sagittal Plane

The plane dividing the body into right and left portions

Midsagittal or median are names for the plane dividing the body into equal right and left halves

Frontal/Coronal Plane The plane dividing the body

into front and back portions

Transverse/ Horizontal Plane (aka: cross section) The horizontal plane dividing the

body into upper and lower portions

Body Cavities

Dorsal Body Cavity Two subdivisions:

Cranial cavity Houses brain

Spinal cavity Houses spinal cord

Ventral Body Cavity Larger than dorsal cavity Thoracic cavity

Contains lungs & heart Separated from rest of

ventral cavity by diaphragm Further separated into right

and left by mediastinum Abdominopelvic cavity

Abdominal cavity Contains stomach, liver, intestines

Pelvic cavity Contains reproductive organs, bladder, rectum

Quadrants

Abdominopelvic Quadrants

Regions

Regions Umbilical region

Centermost region, deep to and surrounding the umbilicus (navel)

Epigastric region Superior to the umbilical region

Hypogastric region Inferior to the umbilical region

Right & Left Iliac/Inguinal regions Lateral to the hypogastric region

Right & Left Lumbar regions Lateral to the umbilical region

Right & Left Hypochondriac regions Lateral to the epigastric region (contain lower ribs)