Terms of Direction and Planes

Question 1

Why are terms of direction and planes of reference important?

Answer 1

Because they are used to describe the relationship between anatomical structures

Question 2

What is the standard anatomical position?

Answer 2

Face forward, standing erect, feet together, palms forward

Question 3

What is midline?

Answer 3

Median or middle line; plane of bilateral symmetry

Bilateral - of two sides

Divides the human body into left and right halves

Question 4

Anterior

Answer 4

Toward the front of the body

Question 5

Posterior

Answer 5

Toward the back of the body or away from the body

Question 6

Superior

Answer 6

Upper or Above

Question 7

Inferior

Answer 7

Lower or Below

Question 8

Medial

Answer 8

Toward the axis or midline

Question 9

Lateral

Answer 9

Away from the axis or midline

Question 10

Ipsilateral

Answer 10

On the same side of the body

Question 11

Contralateral

Answer 11

On the opposite side of the body

Question 12

External vs. Internal

Answer 12

Superficial vs. deep

Used when describing the layering of tissues or organs

e.g. heart is deep to the lungs

Question 13

Used to describe a neonate and to describe the brain

Answer 13

Ventral - inferior (lower)
Dorsal - superior (top)
Rostral - Anterior (front)
Caudal - Posterior (back)

Question 14

Central

Answer 14

Located at the center or core

Question 15

Peripheral

Answer 15

Located on the outward surface or toward the outer surface

Question 16

CNS

Answer 16

Central Nervous System - brain and spinal cord (includes the central or core structures)

Question 17

PNS

Answer 17

Peripheral Nervous System includes cranial nerves + spinal nerves that are located outside or on the periphery of the CNS

Question 18

Proximal + Distal are used when?

Answer 18

Referring to an extremity of the body such as hand or foot

P - toward body + away from extremity

D - Away from the body + towards an extremity

Question 19

Clinical relevance for distal/proximal

Answer 19

Some diseases being distally, but spread proximally (Parkinson’s Disease PD or ALS)

Question 20

abduct or abduction

Answer 20

to move away from midline (used to describe the movement of the vocal folds)

Abducted folds are. open

Question 21

Adduct or Adduction

Answer 21

move toward the midline

Adducted vocal folds are closed

Question 22

Planes of reference

Answer 22

sections of a body positioned in standard anatomical position for humans that are divided along imaginary axes (There are 3)

Question 23

Three planes of reference

Answer 23

Midsaggital
Coronal or Frontal
Horizontal or Transverse

Question 24

Frontal or Coronal

Answer 24

Divides the body into front and back halves

Question 25

Midsagittal

Answer 25

Divides the body into equal left + right halves

Question 26

Sagittal

Answer 26

Halves that are not equal

Question 27

Horizontal or Transverse Plane

Answer 27

Divides body into upper and lower halves