Anatomical Positions/ Terminology Human Anatomy Anatomical Positions/ Terminology Mosby items and derived items © 2010, 2007, 2003 by Mosby. Inc. and affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Anatomical Terminology Anatomical terminology from ancient Greek and Latin Most terms come in pairs Terms of position and direction describe the position of one body part relative to another, usually along one of the three major body planes Mosby items and derived items © 2010, 2007, 2003 by Mosby. Inc. and affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Anatomical Position Is the standard reference point in which all positions, movements, and planes are described Person stands erect with feet together and eyes forward with palms and feet facing forward Mosby items and derived items © 2010, 2007, 2003 by Mosby. Inc. and affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Regional terms – names of specific body areas Axial region – the main axis of the body Appendicular region – the limbs Directional terminology Refers to the body in anatomical position Standardized terms of directions are paired terms Mosby items and derived items © 2010, 2007, 2003 by Mosby. Inc. and affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Directional Terms Superior (cranial)- the part more toward the top of the body The shoulder is superior to the hip Inferior (caudal)- the part is more toward the bottom of the body The stomach is inferior to the heart Superior Inferior Mosby items and derived items © 2010, 2007, 2003 by Mosby. Inc. and affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Directional Terms Anterior (ventral)- toward the front of the body The nose is anterior to the the head Posterior (dorsal)- the part is more toward the back of the body The heel is posterior to the toes Anterior Posterior Mosby items and derived items © 2010, 2007, 2003 by Mosby. Inc. and affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Directional Terms Medial- Toward the midline or midsagittal plane of the body The eyes are medial to the ears Lateral- Toward the sides; away from the middle The eyes are lateral to the nose. Medial Lateral Mosby items and derived items © 2010, 2007, 2003 by Mosby. Inc. and affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Directional Terms Root Proximal- Toward trunk of the body; toward the root of the body The knee is proximal to the ankle Distal- Away from the trunk; away from the root of the body The hand is distal to the elbow Proximal TRUNK Distal Root Proximal Distal Mosby items and derived items © 2010, 2007, 2003 by Mosby. Inc. and affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Distal / Proximal Cont. When you divide the skeleton into Axial (Blue) and Appendicular (Yellow) you can better understand the extremities and their roots. Proximal- toward the axial skeleton Distal- Away from the axial skeleton Mosby items and derived items © 2010, 2007, 2003 by Mosby. Inc. and affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Directional Terms Superficial- toward the body surface The skin is superficial to the muscles Deep- Away from the body surface The lungs are deep to the skin Mosby items and derived items © 2010, 2007, 2003 by Mosby. Inc. and affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Directional Terms Bilateral symmetry: a term meaning that right and left sides of the body are mirror images Ipsilateral-structures are on the same side of the body in anatomical position Contralateral-structures are on opposite sides of the body in anatomical position Ipsilateral Contra lateral Mosby items and derived items © 2010, 2007, 2003 by Mosby. Inc. and affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Orientation and Directional Terms Image from: Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc,. Publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Orientation and Directional Terms Image from: Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc,. Publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Orientation and Directional Terms

Body Language: Anterior is my smile, posterior my butt; I raise my head to be superior and look down in shame when inferior; When angry my arms point medial, and support my shout when lateral; When I hug you, I pull you proximal, but with a kick quickly push you distal;

Example Problems The chin is ________ to the forehead. The ears are _________ to the nose The elbow is on the _________side of the arm The knee is _______ to the hip bone. The shoulder is _________ to the elbow. The nose are ___________ to the lips.

Example Problems The shoulder girdle is _________ to the hip girdle. The knee is _______________ to the ankle The neck is ___________ to the sternum The heart is ____________ to the lungs The fingers are ________ to the palm.

Regional Terms Mosby items and derived items © 2010, 2007, 2003 by Mosby. Inc. and affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Body Planes and Sections Mosby items and derived items © 2010, 2007, 2003 by Mosby. Inc. and affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Body Planes and Sections Coronal (frontal) plane - Lies vertically and divides body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts Sagittal plane – lies vertically and divides the body into left and right sides. Median (midsagittal) plane - Specific sagittal plane that lies vertically in the midline Transverse plane - runs horizontally and divides body into superior (up) and inferior (down) parts Mosby items and derived items © 2010, 2007, 2003 by Mosby. Inc. and affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Body Cavities Dorsal body cavity Cavity subdivided into the cranial cavity and the vertebral cavity. Cranial cavity houses the brain. Vertebral cavity runs through the vertebral column and encloses the spinal cord Mosby items and derived items © 2010, 2007, 2003 by Mosby. Inc. and affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Body Cavities Ventral body cavity – subdivided into: Thoracic cavity – divided into three parts Two lateral parts each containing a lung surrounded by a pleural cavity Mediastinum – contains the heart surrounded by the pericardial sac Mosby items and derived items © 2010, 2007, 2003 by Mosby. Inc. and affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Body Cavities Ventral body cavity Abdominopelvic cavity – divided into two parts Abdominal cavity – contains the liver, stomach, kidneys, and other organs Pelvic cavity – contains the bladder, some reproductive organs, and rectum Mosby items and derived items © 2010, 2007, 2003 by Mosby. Inc. and affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Other Body Cavities Oral cavity Nasal cavity Orbital cavities Middle ear cavities Synovial cavities Mosby items and derived items © 2010, 2007, 2003 by Mosby. Inc. and affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Abdominal Regions and Quadrants Abdominal regions divide the abdomen into nine regions Mosby items and derived items © 2010, 2007, 2003 by Mosby. Inc. and affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Abdominal Quadrants Abdominal quadrants divide the abdomen into four quadrants Right upper and left upper quadrants Right lower and left lower quadrants Mosby items and derived items © 2010, 2007, 2003 by Mosby. Inc. and affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

Other Positions