Anatomical Planes and Axes

Question 1

What is the anatomical position

Answer 1

Standing upright
Facing forward with each arm on either side of the body
Palms facing forward
Legs are parallel
Feet flat on the floor and facing forward

Question 2

What are anatomical Planes and the three ones

Answer 2

Anatomical Planes: Imaginary planes that go through the body

Frontal Plane: Divides the body into front and back sections
Also called coronal plane

Sagittal Plane: Divides the body into left and right sections
Also called median plane

Transverse Plane: Divides the body into upper and lower sections
Also called horizontal plane

Question 3

What are anatomical Axes and the three of them

Answer 3

Anatomical Axes: Used to describe the direction of movement at joints (imaginary line through body)

Longitudinal Axis: Extends from head to toe

Horizontal Axis: Extends from one side of body to other (left/right)
Also referred to as medio-lateral axis

Antero-Posterior Axis: Extends from front to back

General rule to remember is that the axis of rotation is always perpendicular to the plane of movement