Lesson 4 - Anatomical position

Question 1

What does Anatomical position mean?

Answer 1

Anatomical position is the description of any region or part of the body in a specific stance.

It provides a clear and consistent way of describing human anatomy and physiology.

Question 2

If the customer’s body is placed face-down, whatis the correct anatomical position called?

Answer 2

Prone position.

If the anatomical position is placed face-down, it is in the prone position.

Question 3

If the customer’s body is placed face-up, whatis the correct anatomical position called?

Answer 3

Supine position.

If the anatomical position is placed face-up, it is in the supine position.

Question 4

Directional terms are used to describe the regions of the body. Often the terms can be paired.

What are the common anatomical directional terms?

Answer 4

Anterior = At or near the front of the body (front view)

Posterior = At or near the back of the body (back view)

Midline = An imaginary vertical line that divides the body equally (right down the middle)

Lateral = Farther from midline (side view)

Medial = Nearer to midline (side view)

Superior = Toward the head/upper part of a structure (bird’s-eye view, looking down)

Inferior = Away from the head/lower part of a structure (bottom view, looking up)

Superficial = Close to the surface of the body

Deep = Away from the surface of the body

Proximal = Nearer to the origination of a structure

Distal = Farther from the origination of a structure

Question 5

What direction is the Anterior?

Answer 5

Anterior = At or near the front of the body (front view)

Question 6

What direction is the Posterior?

Answer 6

Posterior = At or near the back of the body (back view)

Question 7

What direction is the Midline?

Answer 7

Midline = An imaginary vertical line that divides the body equally (right down the middle)

Question 8

What direction is the Lateral?

Answer 8

Lateral = Farther from midline (side view)

Question 9

What direction is the Medial?

Answer 9

Medial = Nearer to midline (side view)

Question 10

What direction is the Superior?

Answer 10

Superior = Toward the head/upper part of a structure (bird’s-eye view, looking down)

Question 11

What direction is the Inferior?

Answer 11

Inferior = Away from the head/lower part of a structure (bottom view, looking up)

Question 12

What direction is the Superficial?

Answer 12

Superficial = Close to the surface of the body

Question 13

What direction is the Deep?

Answer 13

Deep = Away from the surface of the body

Question 14

What direction is the Proximal?

Answer 14

Proximal = Nearer to the origination of a structure

Question 15

What direction is the Distal?

Answer 15

Distal = Farther from the origination of a structure