CH. 1 & Ch. 3 Anatomy Lab Practical

Anatomical Positions, Cell Division

Anatomical Position

baseline for all directional terminology to ensure precision and reduce medical errors

• body erect - standing upright

• feet - shoulder width, parallel, directed anteriorly

• upper limbs - held at each side

• palms - facing anteriorly

• head and eyes - anteriorly

Directional Terms

describe relative location of body structures

superior (cranial)

position above or higher

inferior (caudal)

position below or lower

anterior (ventral)

front

posterior (dorsal)

back

medial

middle or direction towards midline

lateral

side or direction towards side

proximal

position in a limb nearer to the point of attachment or trunk

distal

position farther away

superficial

closer to surface

deep

farther from surface

Body Planes & Sections

2D surface of a 3D structure that has been cut out

sagittal plane

divides body vertically into right and left sides

midsagittal (median) plane

runs directly down middle

parasagittal plane

unequal right and left sides

frontal (coronal) plane

divides into anterior and posterior portions

transverse (horizontal) plane

hrotizontally into upper and lower portions, cross sections

oblique plane

intersects body at an angle

Body Regions

Cephalic (head)

frontal

forehead

orbital/ocular

eye

otic

ear

nasal

nose

buccal

cheek

oral

mouth

mental

chin

occipital

back of head

Cervical (neck region)

Trunk

thoracic (chest)

• sternal (sternum)

• pectoral (front of upper chest)

• mammary (front of chest w/ breasts and mammary glands)

abdominal (below ribs, stomach)

• umbilical (navel/umbilicus)

pelvic (between abdomen and thighs)

• inguinal (groin)

• pubic (abdomen meets legs)

Posterior Trunk

scapular

shoulder blade

vertebral

spinal column

lumbar

lower back

sacral

between hips

gluteal

buttock

Upper Limb Regions

acromial

point of shoulder

axillary

armpit

brachial

upper arm

antecubital

anterior elbow

olecranal

posterior elbow

antebrachial

forearm

carpal

wrist

manual/manus

hand

palmar

palm

dorsum of hand

posterior surface of hand

pollex

thumb

digital/phalangeal

fingers

Lower Limb Regions

coxal

hip

femoral

thigh

patellar

anterior knee

popliteal

posterior knee

crural

anterior lower leg

sural

posterior lower leg/calf

fibular/peroneal

lateral lower leg

tarsal

ankle

pedal/pes

foot

calcaneal

heel

plantar

sole

dorsum of foot

superior surface of foot

digital/phalangneal

toes

hallux

great toe

Abdominopelvic Quadrants

• right upper quadrant

• left upper quadrant

• right lower quadrant

• left lower quadrant

Abdominopelvic Regions

• right hypochondriac

• epigastric

• left hypochondriac

• right lumbar

• umbilical

• left lumbar

• right iliac

• hypogastric

• left iliac

Body Cavities

maintains internal organization with 2 compartments

Dorsal (Posterior) Body Cavity

cranial cavity

brain

vertebral/spinal cavity

spinal cord

Ventral (Anterior) Body Cavity

thoracic cavity

• right & left pleural cavity - lungs

• mediastinum - between lungs

• pericardial cavity (inside mediastinum, allows heart to contract without friction)

abdominopelvic cavity

• abdominal cavity - digestive, urinary, endocrine organs

• pelvic cavity - reproductive organs

diaphragm

separates thoracic and abdominopelvic cavity

Additional Positional Terms

right/left

according to patient’s own body

unilateral

affects or relates to one side of body

bilateral

affects or relates to both sides of the body

central

near center or main point of body (brain, spine, torso)

peripheral

away from the center; closer to outer edges, limbs, or surface of body (fingers, toes)

internal

inside of body or organ

external

outside of body or surface of organ

supine

lying flat on back in anatomical position, facing upward

prone

lying flat on stomach in anatomical position, facing downwards