Terms of Direction and Planes Flashcards
Why are terms of direction and planes of reference important?
Because they are used to describe the relationship between anatomical structures
What is the standard anatomical position?
Face forward, standing erect, feet together, palms forward
What is midline?
Median or middle line; plane of bilateral symmetry
Bilateral - of two sides
Divides the human body into left and right halves
Anterior
Toward the front of the body
Posterior
Toward the back of the body or away from the body
Superior
Upper or Above
Inferior
Lower or Below
Medial
Toward the axis or midline
Lateral
Away from the axis or midline
Ipsilateral
On the same side of the body
Contralateral
On the opposite side of the body
External vs. Internal
Superficial vs. deep
Used when describing the layering of tissues or organs
e.g. heart is deep to the lungs
Used to describe a neonate and to describe the brain
Ventral - inferior (lower)
Dorsal - superior (top)
Rostral - Anterior (front)
Caudal - Posterior (back)
Central
Located at the center or core
Peripheral
Located on the outward surface or toward the outer surface
CNS
Central Nervous System - brain and spinal cord (includes the central or core structures)
PNS
Peripheral Nervous System includes cranial nerves + spinal nerves that are located outside or on the periphery of the CNS
Proximal + Distal are used when?
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
Clinical relevance for distal/proximal
Some diseases being distally, but spread proximally (Parkinson’s Disease PD or ALS)
abduct or abduction
to move away from midline (used to describe the movement of the vocal folds)
Abducted folds are. open
Adduct or Adduction
move toward the midline
Adducted vocal folds are closed
Planes of reference
sections of a body positioned in standard anatomical position for humans that are divided along imaginary axes (There are 3)
Three planes of reference
Midsaggital
Coronal or Frontal
Horizontal or Transverse
Frontal or Coronal
Divides the body into front and back halves
Midsagittal
Divides the body into equal left + right halves
Sagittal
Halves that are not equal
Horizontal or Transverse Plane
Divides body into upper and lower halves
