1. Directional Terms, Anatomic Planes, Regions, and Quadrants
Chapter 3
Directional Terms, Anatomic Planes, Regions, and Quadrants
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2. Chapter 3
Lesson 3.1
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3. Objectives Define and spell word parts related to directional terms.
Define, pronounce, and spell the terms used to describe directions with respect to the body.
Define, pronounce, and spell the terms used to describe the anatomical planes.
Copyright © 2009, 2006 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

4. Purpose of Directional Terms, Anatomic Planes, Abdominopelvic Regions, and Quadrants
directional terms: used to describe the relative position of one part of the body to another
anatomic planes: used to describe the location of internal organs and structures
abdominopelvic regions: used to locate an anatomical position to describe pain, incisions, markings, and so on
What is the overall purpose of using directional terms, anatomical planes, abdominopelvic regions, and abdominopelvic quadrants?
Copyright © 2009, 2006 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

5. Anatomic Position
Body is viewed as erect, arms at the side with palms of the hands facing forward, and feet placed side by side. Whether the patient is standing or lying down face up, the directional terms are the same.
How is the anatomical position affected when the patient is standing?
How is the anatomical position affected when the patient is lying down, face up?
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6. Combining Forms for Directional Terms
anter/o
caud/o
cephal/o
dist/o
dors/o
infer/o
later/o
medi/o
poster/o
proxim/o
super/o
ventr/o
Review the meaning and use of combining forms.
Present the meaning of combining forms for directional terms and give examples of how they may be used.
What are the combining forms for downward and upward?
What are the combining forms for side, middle, and back/behind?
What is the combining form for belly (front)?
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7. Prefixes and Suffixes Prefixes Suffixes bi- uni- -ad -ior
Review the meaning of prefixes and suffixes and give examples of how they may be used.
How do prefixes and suffixes modify common directional terms?
What other suffixes mean “pertaining to”?
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8. Clicker Question Which of the following is a prefix? bi- -ad dist/o
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9. Directional Terms caudad cephalad lateral medial unilateral bilateral
distal
proximal
Present the directional terms. Compare and contrast their meanings.
What directional term means “pertaining to the front and back”?
What directional term means “pertaining to the head and tail”?
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10. Directional Terms (cont’d.)
inferior
superior
caudal
cephalic
anterior
posterior
dorsal
ventral
anteroposterior (AP)
posteroanterior (PA)
Which directional term means “pertaining to away from and near to the point of an attachment of a body part”?
Copyright © 2009, 2006 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

11. Exercise Figure C #1
This is an illustration of how directional terms apply to the human body.
In what types of medical examinations or treatments would directional terms be used?
This is a photo of a patient being positioned for an x-ray.
What is the use of directional terms, anatomical planes, abdominopelvic regions, and abdominopelvic quadrants in this process?
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12. Clicker Question Which of the following means two sides? unilateral
bilateral
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13. Anatomic Planes
frontal or coronal: vertical field passing through the body from side to side, dividing the body into anterior and posterior portions
midsagittal: vertical field running through the body from front to back; divides body into right and left halves
sagittal: vertical field running through the body from front to back—divides body into uneven right and left halves
transverse: horizontal field dividing the body into upper and lower portions
Name several parts of the body whose position can be identified by using the planes defined above.
Copyright © 2009, 2006 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

14. Anatomic Planes (cont’d.)
This is an illustration of how the body is divided into anatomical planes.
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15. Chapter 3
Lesson 3.2
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16. Learning Objectives
Define, pronounce, and spell the terms used to describe the abdominopelvic regions.
Identify and spell the four abdominopelvic quadrants.
Interpret the meanings of the abbreviations.
Read medical documents and interpret medical terminology contained in them.
Interpret, read, and comprehend medical language in simulated medical statements and documents.
Copyright © 2009, 2006 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

17. Abdominopelvic Regions
To assist medical personnel to locate medical problems with greater accuracy and for identification purposes, the abdomen is divided into regions:
hypochondriac (right & left)
epigastric
lumbar (right & left)
umbilical
iliac (right & left)
hypogastric
The origin of the word hypochondriac is from the Greek hypo, meaning “under,” and chondros meaning “cartilage.” It was devised by Hippocrates.
Where is the umbilical region?
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18. Abdominopelvic Regions (cont’d.)
What body organs are found in these regions?
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19. Abdominopelvic Quadrants
Right upper quadrant: RUQ
Left upper quadrant: LUQ
Right lower quadrant: RLQ
Left lower quadrant: LLQ
What is the purpose of using abdominopelvic quadrant terms in an examination or treatment?
How do abdominopelvic quadrants relate to abdominopelvic regions?
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20. Abdominopelvic Quadrants (cont’d.)
What purposes are served by dividing the abdominopelvic region into quadrants?
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21. Clicker Question Which of the following is an anatomic plane? sagittal
iliac region
right upper quadrant
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22. Abbreviations ant AP inf lat LLQ LUQ med PA RLQ RUQ sup
What are the abbreviations that relate to abdominopelvic quadrants?
What are the abbreviations for anteroposterior and posteroanterior, and what are the meanings of these directional terms?
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23. Medical Document
The patient presented to her physician with pain in the right lumbar region and right unilateral leg pain. The pain was felt in the posterior portion of the leg and radiated to the distal lateral portion of the extremity. There was some proximal muscle weakness reported of the affected leg. A lumbar spine radiograph was normal. If the pain does not respond to antiinflammatory medication, she will be referred to an orthopedist.
Copyright © 2009, 2006 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.