S1.1 - General Anatomy and Radiographic Positioning Terminology

What body plane is this?

Transverse Plane

• splits body superior/inferior

Coronal

• front/back

What plane is this?

What if it was split exactly in the middle?

Sagittal

• right/left

Midsagittal (MSP)

• symmetrical right and left halves

anatomical position

• feet forward

• palms forward

• anterior/ventral

• forward side

• posterior/dorsal

• back side

• superior

  • near the head

• inferior

• near the feet

• Cephalad/Cephalic

• angulation of XR tube towards the head

• Caudad/Caudal

• angulation of XR tube towards the feet

What’s the difference between superior and cephalad?

superior - refers to body parts relative to each other

cephalad - refers to xr tube angulation

Proximal

closer to the point of attachment

• usually refers to extremities

Distal

farther away from the point of attachment

• usually refers to extremities

What’s the difference between superior and proximal?

Superior - when referring to the trunk; toward the head

Proximal - when referring to extremities; toward main attachment point

Lateral

refers to points away from midline of body

Medial

refers to points toward midline of body

• Deep

• away from surface of skin

superficial

• top of skin

Palmar

• palmar surface, anterior surface of hand, ventral surface of hand all mean the same

Plantar surface

• bottom of foot

Dorsum Pedis

• top of foot

• *TEST

Abduction

move away from body

adduction

move toward body

Flexion

• bend joint

• spine: flex forward

Extension

• straighten joint

• spine: extend back

Bending

Inversion

• rotate foot in

Eversion

• rotate foot out

dorsiflexion

• point toes toward body

plantar flexion

• point toes down

Pronation

palm facing down

Supination

palm facing forward