1. 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

2. 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***

3. 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

4. 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.

5. Regional Terms Anterior View Posterior view

6. Diagram1
Anterior
Torso

7. Diagram 2

8. Diagram 3
Leg Landmarks

9. Diagram 4
Arm Landmarks

10. Posterior (Body Landmarks) of the TORSO

11. Body Planes and Sections

12. 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?

13. 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

14. Quadrants Regions

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