ANATOMICAL POSITION THE LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY TO ACCURATELY DESCRIBE BODY PARTS AND POSITION, THERE MUST BE AN INITIAL REFERENCE POINT AND USE DIRECTIONAL TERMS. TO AVOID CONFUSION, IT IS ALWAYS ASSUMED THAT THE BODY IS IN A STANDARD POSITION CALLED THE ANATOMICAL POSITION

THE Anatomical Position A person in the anatomical position is standing erect with the head, eyes and toes pointing forward, feet together with arms by the side. The palms of the hands are also point forward. ***Please assume this position by your desk***

Directional Terms LET’S NOT FORGET superficial AND deep or Superior is also called cephalic, while anterior is also called ventral and posterior is called dorsal LET’S NOT FORGET superficial AND deep or supine and prone

The wrist is SUPERIOR to the hand. The breastbone is ANTERIOR to the spine. The brain is SUPERIOR to the spinal cord. The thumb is LATERAL to the fingers.

Regional Terms Anterior View Posterior view

Diagram1 Anterior Torso

Diagram 2

Diagram 3 Leg Landmarks

Diagram 4 Arm Landmarks

Posterior (Body Landmarks) of the TORSO

Body Planes and Sections

Dorsal and ventral body cavities Dorsal: cranial & spinal cavities Ventral: thoracic, abdominal & pelvic cavities When the body is subjected to physical trauma (accident) the most vulnerable is the organs are those in the abdominal cavity. WHY?

Abdominopelvic cavity Quite large so it is divided into smaller areas Medical professionals divide it into 4 quadrants. RUQ, LUQ, RLQ & LLQ Anatomists use 9 regions

Quadrants Regions

Quadrants and Regions 4 abdominopelvic quadrants 9 abdominopelvic regions 4 abdominopelvic quadrants