Chapter 3: Directional Terms, Planes, Positions, Regions, and Quadrants Medical Terminology

Chapter 3 Abbreviations < > abn abd AP CXR L, LT = Less than = Greater than = Increase = Decrease = Abnormal = Abdomen = Anteroposterior (x-ray) = Chest x-ray = left

Chapter 3 Abbreviations LAT LLQ LUQ PA R, RT RLQ RUQ trans = Lateral = Left lower quadrant = Left upper quadrant = Posteroanterior (x-ray) = Right = Right lower quadrant = Right upper quadrant = transverse

Chapter 3 Abbreviations HPI postop Preop Prep S/P or s/p Gm,gm mg = History of present illness = Postoperative = Preoperative = Prepare for = Status post = gram = milligram

Directional Terms Anatomical Position Body is viewed as standing erect, arms at the side, palms of the hands facing forward, and feet placed side by side

Word Parts for Directional Terms Combining Form Definition anter/o caud/o cephal/o dist/o dors/o infer/o later/o front tail (downward) head(upward) away(from the point of attachment of a body part) back below side

Word Parts for Directional Terms Combining Form Definition medi/o poster/o proxim/o super/o ventr/o middle back/behind near (the point of attachment of a body part) above belly (front)

Word Parts for Directional Terms Prefix Definition bi- uni- two one Definition Suffix -ior, –ac, -ar, -ary, -eal, -otic pertaining to

Directional Terms lateral (lat) medial (med) pertaining to a side pertaining to the middle

Directional Terms Proximal Distal Pertaining to near (to the point of attachment) Distal Pertaining to away (from the point of attachment)

Directional Terms inferior (inf) caudal superior (sup) cephalic Pertaining to below caudal pertaining to the tail superior (sup) pertaining to above cephalic pertaining to the head

Directional Terms anterior (ant) ventral posterior dorsal Pertaining to the front ventral pertaining to the belly posterior pertaining to the back dorsal

Directional Terms anteroposterior (AP) posteroanterior (PA) pertaining to the front and to the back posteroanterior (PA) pertaining to the back and to the front

Anotomic Planes Planes are imaginary flat fields used as points of reference Frequently used in diagnostic imaging and surgery

Anatomic Planes Frontal (Coronal) Vertical field passing through the body from side to side, dividing the body into anterior and posterior

Anatomic Planes Midsagittal Vertical field running through the body from front to back at the midline, dividing the body equally into right and left halves

Anatomic Planes Parasagittal Sagittal Vertical field running through the body from front to back, dividing the body into unequal left and right sides Sagittal Vertical field running through the body from front to back, dividing the body into right and left sides (any plane parallel to the midsagittal plane)

Anatomic Planes Transverse Horizontal field dividing the body into superior and inferior portions

Anatomic Planes

Body Positions Fowler position Semi-sitting position with slight elevation of the knees

Body Positions Prone Lying on abdomen, facing downward (head may be turned to one side)

Body Positions Supine Lying on back, facing upward

Abdominopelvic Regions Umbilical region (1) Around the navel Lumbar regions (2) To the right/left of the umbilical region, near the waist Epigastric region (1) Superior to the umbilical region, generally above the stomach

Abdominopelvic Regions Hypochondriach regions (2) To the right/left of the epigastric region Hypogastric region (1) Inferior to the umbilical region Iliac regions (2) To the right/left of the hypogastric region, near the groin

Diagram(s) Planes Directionals Midsagittal Frontal Transverse Lateral/Medial Anterior/Posterior Proximal/Distal Superior/Inferior