1. Intro to the Human Body – Directional Terms, Planes, Quadrants, and Regions
HST I

2. Correct Anatomical Position
Standing
Feet together
Arms at sides
Head and eyes forward
Palms facing forward
Used when describing anatomical positions and locations

3. Directional Terms
Used to describe the anatomical position of a body part in relation to another

4. Directional Terms
Superior or cranial (cranial used with animals) toward the head end of the body; upper; above(example, the head is superior to the neck). Inferior or caudal (caudal used with animals) away from the head; lower; toward the tailbone (example, the mouth is inferior to the nose).
Anterior or ventral (ventral used with animals) front (example, the teeth are anterior to the tongue). Posterior or dorsal (dorsal used with animals) back (example, the shoulder blades are posterior to the ribs).
Medial toward the midline of the body (example, the big toe is medial to the little toe).

5. Directional Terms
Lateral away from the midline of the body; toward the sides (example, the ears are lateral to the cheekbone).
Proximal toward or nearest the trunk or the point of origin of a part (example, the elbow is proximal to the wrist)
Distal away from or farthest from the trunk or the point or origin of a part (example, the fingers are distal to the hand)
Internal
within the body
External
outside the body

6. Directional Terms Flexion Decreasing the angle between two bones
Extension
Increasing the angle between two bones
Afferent
Carrying toward a center
Efferent
Carrying away from a center
Adduction
Moving toward the midline
Abduction
Moving away from the midline

7. Eversion
Turning a body part outward
Inversion
Turning a body part inward
Pronation
Turning a body part downward (pointing toe)
Supination
Turning a body part upward (shrugging shoulders)

8. Deep
Away from the body surface, more internal
Superficial
Toward or at the body surface
Plantar
Toward the sole of the foot
Palmar
Toward the palm of the hand

9. Directional Terms Usually written with the opposing direction.
For example:
Superior / Inferior
Lateral / Medial
Proximal / Distal

10. Practice: The wrist is ___________ to the hand.
The breastbone is ________ to the spine.
The brain is _______ to the spinal cord.
The lungs are ______ to the stomach.
The thumb is ___________ to the fingers.
The ears are __________ to the nose.
The knee is __________ to the ankle

11. Answers: The wrist is _____proximal_______ to the hand.
The breastbone is __ventral______ to the spine.
The brain is __superior_____ to the spinal cord.
The lungs are _superior______ to the stomach.
The thumb is __lateral_________ to the fingers.
The ears are __lateral___________ to the nose.
The knee is ____proximal_______ to the ankle.

12. Abdominal Quadrants
Divides the abdomen into 4 quadrants by midsagittal and a transverse planes
Intersection occurs at the belly button (navel or umbilicus)
Used when describing pain or injury to a patient OR for locating internal organs
Labeled as
RUQ – right upper quadrant
RLQ – right lower quadrant
LUQ – left upper quadrant
LLQ – left lower quadrant

13. Abdominal Quadrants
Remember – right and left refers to the PATIENT’s right and left NOT YOURS

14. RUQ:
LIVER
GALLBLADDER
DUODENUM
RIGHT KIDNEY AND ADRENAL
LARGE INTESTINE
LUQ:
STOMACH
SPLEEN
PANCREAS
LEFT KIDNEY AND ADRENAL
LARGE INTESTINE
RLQ:
LARGE INTESTINE
SMALL INTESTINE
APPENDIX
RIGHT OVARY AND FALLOPIAN TUBE (females)
RIGHT URETER
LLQ:
SMALL INTESTINE
LARGE INTESTINE
LEFT OVARY AND FALLOPIAN TUBE (females)
LEFT URETER

15. Abdominopelvic (or Abdominal) Regions
9 total regions
Remember – right and left refers to the PATIENT’s right and left NOT YOURS
Right and left hypochondriac
Right and left lumbar
Right and left iliac
Epigastric
Umbilical
Hypogastric

16. Abdominopelvic (or Abdominal) Regions

17. Review:

18. Body Planes
4 anatomical planes that pass through the body when in anatomical position
Sagittal = any left and right separation
Midsagittal = equal right and left separation (down the middle or midline of the body)
Transverse(Horizontal) = top and bottom (superior and inferior)
Coronal (Frontal) = front and back (anterior and posterior)
Oblique = at an angle between horizontal and vertical planes

19. Body Planes

20. Body Cavities 1. Cranial Cavity
2. Spinal Cavity (looking through body at spine)
3. Mediastinum
4. Pleural Cavity
5. Pericardial Cavity
6. Diaphragm
7. Abdominal Cavity
8. Pelvic Cavity
9. Abdominopelvic Cavity
10. Anterior (Ventral Cavity)

21. Body Cavities 1. Cranial cavity - brain
2. (1 and 3) Posterior (Dorsal) Cavity
3. Spinal cavity – spinal cord
4. Thoracic cavity – heart, lungs, esophagus, trachea
5. Diaphragm
6. Abdominal cavity – stomach, spleen, liver, gallbladder, small intestine and most of large intestine
7. Pelvic cavity – part of large intestine, urinary bladder, reproductive organs
(4- 7) Anterior (Ventral) Cavity

22. Medical Abbreviations: (A)
A&P Anterior and Posterior OR
Anatomy and Physiology
aa of each
abol abdomen/abdominal
ab partial abortion
ac before meals
ADL activities of daily living

23. adm admission
amb ambulate
amt amount
AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
AD right ear
AS left ear
ASA aspirin
AU both ears

24. AP apical pulse
AMA American Medical Association
ANA American Nurses Association
approx approximately
aq or aqua aqueous
ASAP as soon as possible
av average
Ax axillary