1. Sports Medicine Standard 2
Anatomical Positions
All of us are interested in our own bodies, but we are often overwhelmed by what appears to be a mountain of terminology and that must be scaled before we can speak the language of anatomy properly.
Sports Medicine Standard 2

2. What is Anatomy and Physiology?
Anatomy is the study of structure
Derived from Greek and means “to cut up” or “to cut open”
Physiology is the study of the functions of body structures
Structure and function are very closely related
What is Anatomy and Physiology?

3. Anatomic Position
In the anatomic position, the body stands upright, with the feet parallel and flat on the floor, the head is level and the eyes look forward toward the observer. The arms are either at either side of the body with palms facing forward and thumbs pointing away from the body. By visualizing the body in anatomic position, all observers have a common point of reference when describing and discussing its various regions. All of the functional and directional terms we will discuss will refer to the body in anatomic position.

4. Planes of the Body Body Planes
Coronal plane – also called frontal plane
A vertical plane that divides the body
into anterior (front) and posterior (back)
parts.
Transverse Plane – also called the cross-
sectional or horizontal plane.
Cuts perpendicularly along the long axis
of the body/organ. The body or organ is
separated into both superior (upper) and
inferior (lower) parts.
Sagittal Plane – also called the median plane
Extends through the body or organ vertically
and divides the structure into right and left
halves.
Midsagittal – sagittal plane in the middle
of the body *only one
Parasagittal – a plane that is parallel to the
Midsagittal plane but either to the left or
right of it.
Planes of the Body

5. Anatomic Directions Term Meaning Example Anterior
In front of; toward the front surface.
The stomach is anterior to the spinal cord.
Posterior
In back of; toward the back surface.
The heart is posterior to the sternum.
Dorsal
At the back side of the human body.
The spinal cord is on the dorsal side of the body.
Ventral
At the belly side of the human body.
The umbilicus (naval, belly button) is on the ventral side of the body.
Anatomic Directions

6. Anatomic Directions Term Meaning Example Superior
Toward the head or above.
The chest is superior to the pelvis.
Inferior
Toward feet not head.
The stomach is inferior to the heart.
Caudal
At the rear or tail end.
The abdomen is caudal to the head.
Cranial
At the head end.
The head is cranial to the trunk.
Anatomic Directions

7. Anatomic Directions Term Meaning Example Medial
Toward the midline of the body.
The lungs are medial to the shoulders.
Lateral
Away from the midline of the body.
The arms are lateral to the heart.
Deep
On the inside, underneath another structure.
Muscles are deep to the skin.
Superficial
On the outside.
The external edge of the kidney is superficial to its internal structure.
Anatomic Directions

8. Anatomic Directions Term Meaning Example Proximal
Closest to point of attachment to trunk.
The elbow is proximal to the hand.
Distal
Furthest from point of attachment to trunk.
The wrist is distal to the elbow.
Visceral
Related to internal organs.
The thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities are lined with thin serous membranes
Parietal
Related to the body walls.
which are composed of two layers: visceral (lines the internal organs) and parietal (lines the inside body wall)
Anatomic Directions

9. Regional Anatomy

10. Regional Anatomy Regional Name Description Abdominal
Region inferior to the thorax (chest) and superior to the hip bones.
Antebrachial
Forearm (the portion of the upper limb between the elbow and wrist.
Axillary
Armpit.
Brachial
Arm (the portion of the upper limb between the shoulder and the elbow).
Buccal
Cheek.
Calcaneal
Heel of the foot.
Carpal
Wrist.
Regional Anatomy

11. Regional Anatomy Regional Name Description Cephalic Head. Coxal Hip.
Cranial
Crural
Leg.
Deltoid
Shoulder.
Digital
Fingers or toes.
Dorsal
Back.
Regional Anatomy

12. Regional Anatomy Regional Name Description Facial Face. Femoral Thigh.
Frontal
Forehead.
Gluteal
Buttock.
Hallux
Great toe.
Ingunial
Groin.
Lumbar
Loin.
Regional Anatomy

13. Regional Anatomy Regional Name Description Mammary Breast. Nasal Nose.
Occipital
Posterior base of the head.
Olecranial
Posterior to the elbow.
Oral
Mouth.
Orbital
Eye.
Palmer
Palm of the hand.
Regional Anatomy

14. Regional Anatomy Regional Name Description Patellar Kneecap Pelvic
Pelvis.
Perineal
Region between the anus and the external reproductive organs.
Pes
Foot.
Plantar
Sole of the foot.
Pollex
Thumb.
Popliteal
Area posterior to knee.
Regional Anatomy

15. Regional Anatomy Regional Name Description Pubic
Anterior region of the pelvis.
Sacral
Posterior region of between the hip bones.
Scapular
Shoulder blade.
Sternal
Middle of the thorax, anteriorly.
Sural
Calf.
Tarsal
Ankle.
Thoracic
Chest or thorax.
Umbilical
Navel.
Vertebral
Spinal column.
Regional Anatomy

16. Anatomical Positions Anatomic Position Decubitus/Recumbent Position
Left/Right Lateral Recumbent
Supine
Prone
Fowler Position
Knee-chest Position
Lithotomy Position
Sims position
Trendelenburg Position
Anatomical Positions

17. Anatomical Positions Decubitus/Recumbent Position Means “lying down”
Dorsal Recumbent (or decubitus)
Means lying down on back
Left/Right Lateral Recumbent
Means lying down on left or right side
Left = recovery position

18. Supine
Means face up
Anatomic Positions

19. Prone
Means face down
Anatomical Positions

20. Anatomical Positions High Fowler’s Position Fowler Position
Patient is sitting upright as far as the bed can go
Between degree angle
Fowler Position
Patient is sitting supine at degree angle
Semi-Fowler’s Position
30-45 degree angle
Anatomical Positions

21. Anatomical Positions Knee-Chest Position
A prone position in which the individual rests on the knees and upper part of the chest.
Anatomical Positions

22. Anatomical Positions Lithotomy Position
A supine position of the body with the legs separated and flexed
Anatomical Positions

23. Anatomical Positions Sims Position
It is performed by having a patient lie on their left side, left hip and lower extremity straight, and right hip and knee bent.
Interchangeable with lateral recumbent.
Anatomical Positions

24. Anatomical Positions Trendelenberg Position
Patient lies face upward on a tilted table or bed with the pelvis higher than the head.
Anatomical Positions