Anatomical Positions Flashcards
What is the anatomical position?
The body is facing forward in a standing position with eyes looking straight, arms at the sides with palms facing forwards, feet parallel pointing forwards, and legs fully extended.
What does ‘anterior’ mean?
Towards the front.
What does ‘posterior’ mean?
Towards the back.
What does ‘superior’ mean?
Towards the head.
What does ‘inferior’ mean?
Towards the feet.
What does ‘medial’ mean?
Towards the median plane (near the middle of the body).
What does ‘lateral’ mean?
Away from the median plane (away from the middle of the body).
What does ‘proximal’ mean?
Towards the axial skeleton.
What does ‘distal’ mean?
Away from the axial skeleton.
What does ‘superficial’ mean?
Towards the external body surface.
What does ‘deep’ mean?
Away from the body surface towards the inner body.
What is the transverse (axial) plane?
The horizontal plane of the body, perpendicular to both frontal and median planes.
What is the coronal (frontal) plane?
A vertical plane at right angles to the median plane.
What is the sagittal plane?
A plane that divides the body into left and right.
What is the median (mid-sagittal) plane?
The plane that divides the body into equal right and left halves.
What is the parasagittal plane?
Any plane parallel to the median plane, dividing the body into unequal right and left parts.
What are the cranial cavity and its contents?
Bound by the skull; contains the brain and meninges.
What does the vertebral canal (spinal cavity) contain?
Contains the spinal cord and nerve roots.
What are the components of the ventral cavity?
Thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities.
What are the nine regions of the abdomen divided by?
Two mid-clavicular lines and two horizontal lines (transpyloric and transtubercular lines).
What does the transpyloric line pass through?
The pylorus (where the oesophagus joins the stomach).
What does the transtubercular line pass through?
The tuberosities of the iliac crests at L5.
What are the four abdominal quadrants?
- Right upper quadrant
- Left upper quadrant
- Right lower quadrant
- Left lower quadrant
What is the supine position?
Lying on the back.
What is the prone position?
Lying on the stomach.
What does ‘adducted’ mean in terms of arm positioning?
Arms positioned by the sides.
What does ‘abducted’ mean in terms of arm positioning?
Arms positioned away from the sides, often above the head.
What is the importance of accurate patient positioning in radiotherapy?
To recreate the position correctly for each treatment and deliver radiation to the correct place.
Fill in the blank: The _______ plane divides the body into equal right and left halves.
Median (mid-sagittal)
True or False: The dorsal cavity contains the brain.
True
What are the two types of body movements described?
- Away from the central line of the body
- Towards the central line of the body
What is the correct orientation for viewing transverse/axial images?
Looking from the patient’s feet.
What are the clues for orientating a sagittal image?
- Anterior
- Posterior
- Right
- Left
- Superior (head)
- Inferior (feet)
What does ‘inferior’ describe in terms of patient alignment?
Position below another part of the body.
What is the significance of tattoos in radiotherapy?
They are used as reference marks for accurate treatment positioning.
