Direction terms and planes Flashcards
Anatomical position
Body standing erect
Limbs extended
Palms of hands forward
Thumbs directed outwardly
Cranial/Superior
Refers to a structure being closer to the top of the head than another structure in the head, neck or torso (excludes limbs)
Anterior/ Ventral
A structure being more in front than another structure in the body
Refers to the abdominal side
Synonymous
Posterior/ Dorsal
Refers to a structure being more in back than another structure in the body
Synonymous
Medial
Refers to a structure that is closer to the median plane than another structure
Lateral
Refers to a structure that is farther away from the median plane than another structure in the body
Proximal
Refers to a structure being closer to the median plane or root of the limb than another structure in the limb
Reference to limbs only
Distal
Refers to a structure being farther away from the median plane or the root of the limb than another structure
Reference to limbs only
Caudal/ Inferior
Refers to a structure being closer to the feet or the lower part of the body than another structure in the body
Not used with limbs
Superficial
A structure closer to the surface of the body
Synonymous with external
Deep
A structure farther away from the surface
Synonymous with internal
Ipsilateral
On the same side as reference point
Contralateral
On the opposite side of reference point
Rostral
Towards front of head
Caudal
Towards back of head
Midline
An imaginary line that divides the body length ways into two equal halves
Prone Position
Lying face down
Supine Position
Lying face up
Sagittal Plane
Vertically divides the body into left and right portions
Mid sagittal plane
Divides the body into equal right and left halves
Frontal (coronal) plane
A vertical plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior
Transverse plane
A horizontal plane that divides the body into superior and inferior
Oblique plane
Cuts the body on an angle
Abdominopelvic quadrants
A method used to divide the Abdominopelvic cavity
Right upper quadrant (RUQ), Left upper quadrant(LUQ), right lower quadrant(RLQ), left lower quadrant (LLQ)
Abdominopelvic regions
Method divides the cavities into smaller regions Used less frequently but more precise Right hypochondriac region Epigastric region Left Hypochondriac region Right lumber (flank) region Umbilical region left lumber (flank) region Right iliac (inguinal region) Hypogastric (pubic) region left iliac (inguinal) region
