Anatomical Terminology (Pt. 1) Flashcards
Anatomical Position
(6 Answers)
Positioning:
- Stranding upright
- Legs together
- Feet pointing forward
- Arms down to side
- Palms facing forward
- Eyes looking straight ahead
Who uses the anatomical position?
When describing body positions or using direction terms, health professionals visualize the patient in the anatomical position.
Why is it important to use the anatomical position?
By using it, it does not become necessary to describe the patient’s actual position. It does not matter whether the patient is lying down or sitting up or wether the health professional is on the patient’s right or left side. Unless stated otherwise, it is assumed that the patient is in anatomical positioning.
Where does the term anatomy come from?
The term anatomy comes from combining two greek words: ana meaning “apart” and tome meaning “to cut.” It was necessary to cut apart the body in order to study its internal structure.
Into how many planes (sections) is the body divided into?
Three main planes (sections):
- Frontal (Coronal)
- Sagittal
- Transverse
Frontal (Coronal) Plane
- A vertical plane that runs from side to side
- It slices the body into anterior and posterior portions
- A cut along frontal plane produces a front or coronal section
Sagittal Plane
- Also vertical plane but runs front to back
- It slices the body into left and right portions
- A cut a long the sagittal plane produces a sagittal section.
Transverse Plane
- The only horizontal plane
- It slices the body into upper and lower portions
- A cut along transverse plane produces a transverse section.
Longitudinal/Cross-section
The terms longitudinal section and cross-section are often used to describe internal views of the body.
Longitudinal Section
A lengthwise slice along the long axis of a structure produces a longitudinal section.
- EX: down the length of the arm
Cross-Section
A cross-section is produced by a slice perpendicular to the long axis of a structure
- EX: a cut across upper arm.
Anter/o + ior
Pertaining to front (side of body)
Caud/o + al
Pertaining to the tail
Cephal/o + ic
Pertaining to the head
Deep
A term meaning further below from the surface
Dist/o + al
Pertaining to farthest (away from beginning of structures)
Dors/o + al
Pertaining to back (side of the body)
Where does the combining word dors/o originate from?
The combining word dors/o comes from the latin word dorsum meaning “the back.”
Infer/o + ior
Pertaining to below
Later/o + al
Pertaining to the side
Medi/o + al
Pertaining to the middle
Poster/o + ior
Pertaining to back (side of body)
Prone
A term meaning to lie face down
Where does the term prone originate from?
The term prone comes from the Latin word pronus meaning “leaning forward.”
Proxim/o + al
Pertaining to nearest (to beginning of structure)
Superficial
A term meaning nearer the surface
Super/o + ior
Pertaining to above
Supine
A term meaning to life face up
Where does the term supine originate from?
The term supine comes from the Latin word supinus meaning “bent backwards.”
Ventr/o + al
Pertaining to belly (side of the body)
Where does the combining form ventr/o originate from?
The combining form ventr/o comes from the Latin word venter meaning “the belly.”
