EMT - Chapter 5

Anatomical position

Person standing erect, facing observer, arms at sides, palms forward. Standard reference position for the body

Midline

Down the center of the body dividing into right and left halves

Medial

towards midline

Lateral

Away from midline

Bilateral

both sides

Unilateral

one side

Midaxillary line

Vertical line from armpit to ankle

Anterior (or ventral)

In front of body or part

Posterior (or dorsal)

Back of body or part (dorsal like dolphin fin)

Superior

Toward the head

Inferior

Away from head

Proximal

Closer to torso

Distal

Farther from torso

Torso

Body without head or extremities

Head (parts)

Cranium, face, mandible, neck

Torso (parts)

Thorax, abdomen

Upper extremity (parts)

Shoulder, arm, elbow, forearm, wrist, hand

Lower extremity (parts)

Thigh, knee, leg, ankle, foot

Frontal plane (coronal)

Cuts body into two halves: front and back

Sagittal plane (median)

Cuts body into two halves: left and right

Transverse plane (horizantal)

Cuts body near waist into two halves: top and bottom

Palmer

Referring to palm of hand

Plantar

Referring to sole of foot

Midclavicular line

Starts at the clavicle and runs inferiorly (away from head). Two clavicles so two lines

Abdominal quadrants (just names)

Right upper, right lower, left upper, left lower

Right upper AQ (contents)

Liver, right kidney, colon, pancreas, gallbladder

Right lower AQ (contents)

Right kidney, colon, small intestine, major artery and vein to right leg, ureter, appendix

Left upper AQ

Liver, spleen, left kidney, stomach, colon, pancreas

Left lower AQ

Left kidney, colon, small intestine, major artery and vein to left leg, ureter

Supine

lying on back

Prone

lying facedown

Lateral recumbent

recovery position, lying on side

Fowler position

sitting position