Anatomical Terminology (Pt. 1)

Question 1

Anatomical Position

(6 Answers)

Answer 1

Positioning:

• Stranding upright
• Legs together
• Feet pointing forward
• Arms down to side
• Palms facing forward
• Eyes looking straight ahead

Question 2

Who uses the anatomical position?

Answer 2

When describing body positions or using direction terms, health professionals visualize the patient in the anatomical position.

Question 3

Why is it important to use the anatomical position?

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

Where does the term anatomy come from?

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

Into how many planes (sections) is the body divided into?

Answer 5

Three main planes (sections):

• Frontal (Coronal)
• Sagittal
• Transverse

Question 6

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

Answer 6

• 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

Question 7

Sagittal Plane

Answer 7

• 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.

Question 8

Transverse Plane

Answer 8

• The only horizontal plane
• It slices the body into upper and lower portions
• A cut along transverse plane produces a transverse section.

Question 9

Longitudinal/Cross-section

Answer 9

The terms longitudinal section and cross-section are often used to describe internal views of the body.

Question 10

Longitudinal Section

Answer 10

A lengthwise slice along the long axis of a structure produces a longitudinal section.

• EX: down the length of the arm

Question 11

Cross-Section

Answer 11

A cross-section is produced by a slice perpendicular to the long axis of a structure

• EX: a cut across upper arm.

Question 12

Anter/o + ior

Answer 12

Pertaining to front (side of body)

Question 13

Caud/o + al

Answer 13

Pertaining to the tail

Question 14

Cephal/o + ic

Answer 14

Pertaining to the head

Question 15

Deep

Answer 15

A term meaning further below from the surface

Question 16

Dist/o + al

Answer 16

Pertaining to farthest (away from beginning of structures)

Question 17

Dors/o + al

Answer 17

Pertaining to back (side of the body)

Question 18

Where does the combining word dors/o originate from?

Answer 18

The combining word dors/o comes from the latin word dorsum meaning “the back.”

Question 19

Infer/o + ior

Answer 19

Pertaining to below

Question 20

Later/o + al

Answer 20

Pertaining to the side

Question 21

Medi/o + al

Answer 21

Pertaining to the middle

Question 22

Poster/o + ior

Answer 22

Pertaining to back (side of body)

Question 23

Prone

Answer 23

A term meaning to lie face down

Question 24

Where does the term prone originate from?

Answer 24

The term prone comes from the Latin word pronus meaning “leaning forward.”

Question 25

Proxim/o + al

Answer 25

Pertaining to nearest (to beginning of structure)

Question 26

Superficial

Answer 26

A term meaning nearer the surface

Question 27

Super/o + ior

Answer 27

Pertaining to above

Question 28

Supine

Answer 28

A term meaning to life face up

Question 29

Where does the term supine originate from?

Answer 29

The term supine comes from the Latin word supinus meaning “bent backwards.”

Question 30

Ventr/o + al

Answer 30

Pertaining to belly (side of the body)

Question 31

Where does the combining form ventr/o originate from?

Answer 31

The combining form ventr/o comes from the Latin word venter meaning “the belly.”