module 3: directional terms, positions, and imaging

When directional terms are applied, it is assumed that the body is in the standard neutral position of reference known as the

anatomic position

The abbreviation of the term that means pertaining to the back and to the front is

PA

The meaning of the prefix bi- is

two

The combining form meaning back, behind is

poster/o

In the medical term ventral, the word root means

belly (front)

The word part that completes the medical term meaning toward the head, _______/ad, is

cephal

The combining form super/o means

above

The combining form meaning near (the point of attachment) is

proxim/o

In the medical term medial, the word root means

middle

The word part that completes the medical term meaning pertaining to the back, poster/_______, is

-ior

The meaning of the suffix -ad is

toward

The combining form meaning side is

later/o

The combining form that means front is

anter/o.

The combining form dist/o means

away (from the point of attachment).

When referring to humans, ventral is interchangeable with the term

anterior

The medical term that is a synonym for posterior is

dorsal

The medical term meaning pertaining to below is

inferior

The medical term dorsal means

pertaining to the back

The medical term that means pertaining to the tail is

caudal

The medical term anteroposterior means pertaining to the

front and to the back

The medical term meaning pertaining to a side is

lateral

The correct spelling of the medical term meaning pertaining to one side (only) is

unilateral

The medical term mediolateral means pertaining to the

middle and to the side

The correct spelling of the medical term meaning toward the head is

cephalad

The meaning of the medical term anterior is

pertaining to the front

pertaining to the front

distal

The abbreviation of the medical term meaning pertaining to the front is

ant

On the image below, what is the directional term indicated by label 1?

dorsal

On the image below, what is the directional term indicated by label 2?

cephalic

On the image below, what is the directional term indicated by label 3?

Anterior

On the image below, what is the directional term indicated by label 4?

Caudal

Frontal, coronal, sagittal, and transverse refer to

anatomic planes

Imaginary vertical and horizontal lines drawn through the umbilicus form the

abdominopelvic quadrants

The horizontal plane dividing the body into superior (or upper) and inferior (or lower) portions is the

transverse plane

A vertical plane passing through the body from front to back, dividing the body into right and left sides is a

sagittal plane

The coronal plane is also called the

frontal plane

The parasagittal plane could best be described as an imaginary plane passing through the body and dividing it into

unequal right and left sides

The frontal plane could best be described as an imaginary plane passing through the body and dividing it into

anterior and posterior portions

The medical term meaning to the right and left of the umbilical region, near the waist is

lumbar regions

The umbilical region refers to

around the navel (umbilicus)

The correct spelling of the region referring to the right and left of the epigastric region is

hypochondriac

The epigastric region refers to

the region superior to the umbilical region

The medical term referring to the area that contains the right lobe of the liver, the gallbladder, part of the pancreas, and portions of the small and large intestines is the

right upper quadrant

The medical term referring to the area that contains portions of the intestinal tract, the left ureter, the left fallopian tube and ovary in women, and the left spermatic duct in men is the

left lower quadrant

RLQ abbreviates

right lower quadrant

Identify term 1 in the abdominopelvic region shown.

right hypochondriac region

Identify term 2 in the abdominopelvic region shown.

epigastric region

Identify term 3 in the abdominopelvic region shown.

left hypochondriac region

Identify term 4 in the abdominopelvic region shown.

right lumbar region

Identify term 5 in the abdominopelvic region shown.

umbilical region

Identify term 6 in the abdominopelvic region shown.

left lumbar region

Identify term 7 in the abdominopelvic region shown.

right iliac region

Identify term 8 in the abdominopelvic region shown.

hypogastric region

Identify term 9 in the abdominopelvic region shown.

left iliac region

Identify anatomic plane 1 in the following illustration.

Frontal, or coronal plane

Identify anatomic plane 2 in the following illustration.

Sagittal plane

Identify anatomic plane 3 in the following illustration.

Transverse plane

Identify the abbreviation for quadrant 1 on the illustration.

RUQ

Identify the abbreviation for quadrant 2 on the illustration.

LUQ

Identify the abbreviation for quadrant 3 on the illustration.

RLQ

Identify the abbreviation for quadrant 4 on the illustration.

LLQ

In the Radiology Department, Patient A is directed to lie face up on the exam table, whereas Patient B is directed to lie face down. Both of these patients can be said to be in the _________ position.

recumbent

Mr. B is recovering from a head injury, so the Emergency Department physician orders that he be positioned in a semi-sitting position with slight elevation of the knees. From this, we know that Mr. B is being placed in the ________ position.

Fowler

Identify body position 1 in the following illustration.

Trendelenburg

Identify body position 2 in the following illustration.

Lithotomy

Identify body position 3 in the following illustration.

Sims

Ms. T arrives at the Physical Therapy Department for her therapeutic massage to relieve her sciatica. She is directed to lie on her abdomen, facing downward. Mrs. T is being placed in the ________ position.

prone

Mr. H arrives at the outpatient surgical center to have a benign tumor removed from the top of his head. The pre-op nurse directs Mr. H to a chair and asks him to sit erect, with a pillow behind him for support, and lean forward on two large pillows. Mr. H is being arranged in the _________ position.

orthopnea