Anatomical Terminology
Anatomical Position Arms down by side Palms up Head and eyes forward Legs parallel, feet together
Coronal/Sagittal/Transverse Planes Coronal Plane (Frontal Plane) Sagittal Plane (Lateral Plane) Transverse Plane (Axial Plane)
Coronal Plane aka Frontal Plane Vertical plane running from side to side Divides the body or any of its parts into anterior and posterior portions
Sagittal Plane aka Lateral Plane vertical plane running from front to back Divides the body or any of its parts into right and left sides
Transverse Plane aka Axial Plane Horizontal plane Divides the body or any of its parts into upper and lower parts
Anterior/Posterior Anterior—to be situated near or toward the front of the body Posterior--to be situated toward the back of the body
Superior/Inferior Cranial/Caudal Superior—means to be situated toward the upper part or head of the body, positioned above another organ or structure Inferior—to be situated toward the lower part of the body or positioned below another organ or structure Cranial—refers to the head end Caudal—refers to the tail end
Superior/Inferior Cranial/Caudal
Medial/Lateral Medial—to be closer to the midline of the body or a structure, being internal as opposed to external Lateral—to be farther away, in the direction of either side, from the midline of the body or a structure
Proximal/Distal Proximal: Toward or nearest the trunk or the point of origin of a part Distal: Away from or farthest from the trunk or the point of origin of a part
Avascular Without blood circulation
Ectopic Occurring in an abnormal position or place Ectopic pregnancy=a complication of pregnancy in which the pregnancy implants outside the uterine cavity Ectopic kidney=not located in the usual position
Unilateral/Bilateral Unilateral—on one side Bilateral—on both sides
Acute/Chronic Acute—symptoms appear and change/worsen rapidly (heart attack) Chronic—develops and worsens over an extended period of time (atherosclerosis) Atherosclerosis: a common arterial disease in which raised areas of degeneration and cholesterol deposits plaques form on the inner surfaces of the arteries obstructing blood flow
Ipsilateral/Contralateral Ipsilateral—on the same side as another structure i.e. the left arm is ipsilateral to the left leg. Contralateral—on the opposite from another structure i.e. the left arm is contralateral to the right arm, or the right leg.
Superficial/Intermediate/Deep Superficial—near the outer surface of the body i.e. skin is superficial to the muscle layer Intermediate—between two other structures i.e. the naval is intermediate to (or intermediate between) the left arm and the contralateral (right) leg. Deep—further away from the surface of the body i.e. the muscular layer is deep to the skin, but superficial to the intestines.
Body Cavities Thoracic Cavity Abdominal and Pelvic Cavity Dorsal Cavity 21
Thoracic Cavity Upper ventral, thoracic or chest cavity Contains: Heart Lungs Trachea Esophagus Large blood vessels Nerves Bound laterally by ribs and the diaphragm caudally
Abdominopelvic Cavity Lower part of ventral cavity Abdominal: Gastrointestinal tract Kidneys Adrenal glands Pelvic: Urogenital system Rectum 23
Dorsal Cavity Smaller of two main cavities Upper portion: Cranial cavity Brain Lower portion: Vertebral canal contains the spinal cord
Flexion/Extension
Abduction/Adduction Abduction—moving a body part away from midline Adduction—moving a body part toward the midline
Abduction/Adduction
Internal/External Rotation Internal rotation— rotation towards the center of the body aka medial rotation External rotation— rotation away the center of the body aka lateral rotation
Internal/External Rotation
Hip Internal Rotation
Hand: Dorsal/Plamar
Foot: Dorsal/Plantar
Supination/Pronation
Plantar Flexion/Dorsiflexion
Elevation/Depression
Inversion/Eversion
Superficial/Intermediate/Deep
Review Anatomic planes/position Distal Proximal Medial Lateral Superior Inferior Cranial Caudal Anterior Posterior Acute Chronic Pronation Supination Inversion Eversion Varus Valgus Avascular Ectopic