Body Planes/Anatomical Terminology 1.3

Anatomical Position

Standard reference position:

-standing erect with feet together

-face and eyes directed forward

-Skull/head - Frankfurt plane

-upper limbs at the side, palms forward

-the penis is erect

-lower limbs together, feet forward

Medial plane (midsagittal)

Longitutidal; divides body into right and left halves

Sagittal plane

-any plane parallel to median;-parallel to sagittal suture of skull

Coronal plane

-longitudinal; divides body into front and back-parallel to coronal suture-also called frontal

Frankfurt Plane

A horizontal plane that includes the orbitals and external acoustic meatus in anatomical position.

A horizontal plane that includes the orbitals and external acoustic meatus in anatomical position.

Frankfurt Plane

Transverse Plane

-divides body into top and bottom

-parallel to horizon (horizontal)

-also called transverse or transaxial

Penis

Anatomically considered erect in anatomical position.

Directional and Regional Terms

Terms used to describe the location of body parts and regions.

Anterior

Refers to the front of the body.

Axial Region

The region of the body that includes the head, neck, and trunk.

Appendicular Region

The region of the body that includes the upper and lower limbs.

Upper Limb

Includes the arm, forearm, wrist, and hand.

Acromial

Relating to the shoulder.

Brachial

Relating to the arm.

Antecubital

Relating to the front of the elbow.

Antebrachial

Forearm

Cephalic

Relating to the head.

Frontal

Relating to the forehead.

Orbital

Relating to the eye socket.

Buccal

pertaining to the cheek

Nasal

Relating to the nose.

Oral

Relating to the mouth.

Mental

Relating to the chin.

Cervical

Relating to the neck.

Carpal

Relating to the wrist.

Thoracic

Relating to the chest.

Axillary

Relating to the armpit.

Sternal

Relating to the sternum.

Mammary

Relating to the breast.

Manus

Relating to the hand.

Pollex

Relating to the thumb.

Abdominal

Relating to the abdomen.

Umbilical

Relating to the navel.

Pelvic

Relating to the pelvis.

Inguinal

Relating to the groin.

Palmar

Relating to the palm of the hand.

Digital

Relating to the fingers or toes.

Lower Limb

Includes the hip, thigh, leg, ankle, and foot.

Coxal

Relating to the hip.

Femoral

Relating to the thigh.

Patellar

Relating to the kneecap.

Pubic

Relating to the genital region.

Crural

Relating to the leg.

Fibular or peroneal

Relating to the side of the leg.

Pedal

Relating to the foot.

Tarsal

Relating to the ankle.

Thorax

Relating to the chest.

Back

Relating to the posterior of the body.

Metatarsal

Relating to the bones of the foot.

Hallux

Relating to the big toe.

Posterior

Refers to the back of the body.

Otic

Relating to the ear.

Occipital

Relating to the back of the head.

Scapular

Relating to the shoulder blade.

Olecranal

Relating to the back of the elbow.

Vertebral

Relating to the spine.

Lumbar

Relating to the lower back.

Sacral

Relating to the sacrum.

Gluteal

Relating to the buttocks.

Metacarpal

Relating to the bones of the hand.

Perineal

Relating to the area between the anus and external genitalia.

Popliteal

Relating to the back of the knee.

Sural

Relating to the calf of the leg.

Calcaneal

Relating to the heel.

Plantar

Relating to the sole of the foot.

Inversion

Medial rotation of the sole of the foot.

Eversion

Lateral rotation of the sole of the foot.

Plantar Flexion

Depression of the foot.

Dorsiflexion

Elevation of the foot.

Dorsal

Back

Pronation

Medial rotation of the forearm with the palm facing posteriorly; radius rotates over ulna

Supination

Lateral rotation of the forearm with the palm facing anteriorly; radius and ulna are parallel

Protraction

Anterior movement of the mandible.

Retraction

Posterior movement of the mandible.

Flexion

The bending action that decreases the angle between two bones.

Extension

The straightening action that increases the angle between two bones.

Hyperextension

Bending a joint beyond its straight position.

Abduction

The movement of a limb away from the body midline.

Adduction

The movement of a limb toward the body midline.

Circumduction

Moving a limb or finger in a cone shape in space.

Rotation

The movement around an axis.

coronal (frontal) plane

vertical, divides the body into anterior and posterior sections

sagittal plane

vertical, divides the body into a right and left section

midsagittal (median) plane

vertical, divides the body into equal in size right and left sections

transverse plane

horizontal, divides the body into superior and inferior sections.

Coronal Section

Also called a 'Frontal' section, this body plane is capable of revealing a wide area. This image is taken of the thorax, and is cut parallel to both shoulder blades(scapulae).

Sagittal Section

A sagittal, median or midsagittal plane is cut down the long length of the body. The body is split into right and left halves. If the plane is exactly in the center, then it is considered to be midsagittal.

transverse section

The transverse plane is taken across the body.Often times used for brain or abdominal imaging.Can be taken at any level of the abdomen or multiple levels to yield a series.

transverse; feet

Remember, a CT or MRI in the _______ plane is orientated as if the viewer is looking at it from the ______ up!!!!

Superior (cranial)

Toward the head end or upper part of a structure of the body; above

Inferior (Caudal)

Away from the head or toward the lower part of a structure of the body; below

Anterior (ventral)*

Toward or at the front of the body; in front of

Posterior (dorsal)*

Toward or at the back of the body; behind

Medial

Toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of

Proximal

Closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

Distal

Farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

Superficial (external)

Toward or at the body surface

Deep (internal)

Away from the body surface more internal