Directional Terms and Body Planes Flashcards
Purpose of anatomical positions?
We use it as a reference point when talking about body parts
What does the anatomical position look like?
Body standing erect, face forwards, feet parallel, arms hanging at sides, palms forwards and thumbs away from body.
What are the common planes used in anatomy
Sagittal, Frontal and Transverse
What is the sagittal plane?
The sagittal plane refers to the vertical plane; dividing the body into right and left
What is the frontal plane?
Also a vertical plane but it divides the body from anterior and posterior (front and back)
What is the transverse plane?
Horizontal plane; divides the body from superior and inferior (top half and bottom half)
What is anterior?
Refers to the front of the body; in front of
What is posterior?
Toward the back of the body; behind
What is medial? An example?
Refers to going towards the midline of the body
- i.e. The ring finger is medial to the middle finger because it’s closer to the midline
What is lateral? An example?
Refers to something further away from the midline or on the side of
- i.e. the middle finger is lateral to the ring finger
- i.e. the ears are lateral to the nose
What is superior?
More towards the upper body; the nose is superior to the mouth
What is inferior?
More towards the lower body; the mouth is inferior to the nose.
What is intermediate? An example?
Refers to something between medial and lateral
- i.e.
What is proximal? An example?
Refers to a part that’s closer to the point of attachment or closer to the origin
- i.e. the elbow is proximal to the wrist because the shoulder is the point of attachment and the elbow is closer.
What is distal? An example?
Refers to a part that’s farther from the point of attachment or farther from the origin
- i.e. the knee is distal to the thigh because the hip is our point of attachment and the knee is further away from it than the thigh.
What is superficial? An example?
Refers to the position of something that is closer to the surface of the body; known as external
- i.e. the skin is superficial to the skeletal muscles
What is deep? An example?
Refers to the position of something being farther away from the surface; known as internal
- i.e. the lungs are deep to the skin.
What is central/internal?
Refers to being closer or to the centre of the organ/cavity
What is external
Refers to the outer parts of the organ/cavity
What’s the difference between superficial/deep and internal and external?
Internal and external are used more for describing an individual organ.
What is rostral?
More towards the front of the brain or front of face or even towards the top of the spinal cord
What is claudal?
More to the back of the brain or towards the bottom of the spinal cord
What is cranial
Directional term meaning more towards the skull or head.
When referring to the palms of the anatomical position what directional term would we use?
Anterior or palmar since the palms are just facing out
What directional term would we use to describe the back of the palm when using the anatomical position?
Posterior or back because we are mentioning the back of the palm
If we looked at the feet in the anatomical position, what would be considered the anterior term?
The front toe
What would be considered the posterior term if we looked at the feet in anatomical position?
The heel
What is the term used to describe the sole of the feet in anatomical position and why?
Plantar is the term and it’s called that to describe how the feet are “planted” on the ground
