PATHFIT1: 2.1 - Anatomical Positions & Planes and Anatomical & Physiological Terms of Motion

Unit 2: Anatomical Positions and Anatomical Planes in Human Movement and Anatomical Directions and Anatomical & Physiological Terms of Motion

Anatomical position

It is used as the standard reference point to prevent confusion when referring to position.

Body: standing upright, facing straight ahead

Feet: flat on the floor, pointing forward, shoulder-width apart

Arms: resting on the sides

Palms: facing forward with thumbs pointing outwards.

What is the universally accepted starting point used to help describe body structures, directional terms, and movements.

Anatomical planes

These are used to describe sections and movement paths of the human body.

Sagittal plane (median)

This plane splits the body vertically into “left” and “right” sections.

Coronal plane (frontal)

This plane splits the body vertically into the anterior and posterior section.

Transverse plane (horizontal, trans-axial, axial)

This plane splits the body horizontally into the superior and inferior section.

Anatomical directions

The standardized directional terms used to describe the position and relationship of one body structure to another, while assuming the body is in the standard anatomical position.

Superior / cranial

Direction: Toward the head or above

Inferior / caudal

Direction: Toward the feet or below.

Anterior / ventral

Direction: Toward the front of the body

Posterior / dorsal

Direction: Towards the back of the body.

Medial

Direction: Toward the body’s midline.

Lateral

Direction: Away from the body’s midline.

Proximal

Direction: Closer to the point of attachment or the trunk.

Distal

Direction: Farther from the point of attachment or the trunk.

Superficial

Direction: Near or at the body’s surface.

Deep

Direction: Farther from the body’s surface.

Anatomical & Physiological Terms of Motion

These are used to describe the various actions and movements of joints in the body.

Antagonistic movement

The term that describes the movement in the opposite direction.