Chapter 2: Navigation of the Nervous System

anatomical position

• body erect

• palms out

• arms forward

• face forward

anatomical vs clinical orientation

• anatomical orientation = traditional method of viewing the body, often used in textbooks and educational settings

• clinical orientation = used in medical imaging, where the patient's perspective is crucial for accurate interpretation

body planes

• sagittal

• coronal/frontal

• transverse/horizontal

sagittal plane

divides structure into left and right portions

• think slicing an apple

coronal/frontal plane

divides structure into front and back portions

• think slicing bread

transverse/horizontal plane

divides structure into upper and lower portions

• think hamburger layers

directional terms

• superior/cranial

• inferior/caudal

• anterior/ventral

• posterior/dorsal

• medial

• lateral

• proximal

• distal

• ipsilateral

• contralateral

• peripheral

• central

superior/cranial

from a high position

inferior/caudal

from a low position

anterior/ventral

toward the stomach

posterior/dorsal

toward the back

lateral

away from the body’s midline

medial

toward the body’s midline

proximal

point nearest limb’s attachment

distal

point farthest from limb’s attachment

peripheral

toward the outer surface

central

toward the center

ipsilateral

on the same side

contralateral

on the opposite side

directional terms applied to the brain

• dorsal

• ventral

• caudal

• rostral

dorsal applied to the brain

toward the top of the brain

ventral applied to the brain

toward the bottom of the brain

caudal applied to the brain

toward the back of the brain

rostral applied to the brain

toward the front of the brain

body position terms

• supine

• prone

supine

lying on back, face up

prone

lying on stomach, face down

muscle actions

• adduction

• abduction

• flexion

  • extension

adduction

bringing structures together

abduction

moving structures apart

flexion

bending a joint

extension

straightening out a joint

in a functional approach, what are the 2 major divisions of the NERVOUS system?

sensory system and motor system

in a functional approach, what are the 2 major divisions of the SENSORY system?

somatosensory system and visceral system

in a functional approach, what are the 2 major divisions of the MOTOR system?

autonomic nervous system and somatic nervous system

in an ANATOMICAL approach, what are the 2 major divisions of the nervous system?

CNS and PNS

in an anatomical approach, what are the 2 major divisions of the CNS?

brain and spinal cord

what 4 structures make up the brain?

brainstem, cerebellum, diencephalon, and cerebral hemispheres

in an anatomical approach, what are the 2 major divisions of the PNS?

cranial nerves and spinal nerves