1. Anatomical Positions/ Terminology
Human Anatomy
Anatomical Positions/ Terminology
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2. 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.

3. 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
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4. 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
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5. 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
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6. 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
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7. 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
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8. 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
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9. 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
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10. 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
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11. 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.

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

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

14. Orientation and Directional Terms

15. 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;

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. Regional Terms
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19. Body Planes and Sections
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20. 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
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21. 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
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22. 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
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23. 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
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24. Other Body Cavities Oral cavity Nasal cavity Orbital cavities
Middle ear cavities
Synovial cavities
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25. Abdominal Regions and Quadrants
Abdominal regions divide the abdomen into nine regions
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26. Abdominal Quadrants
Abdominal quadrants divide the abdomen into four quadrants
Right upper and left upper quadrants
Right lower and left lower quadrants
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27. Other Positions