BPK 326: Positions, Planes, Axes, and Terms of Direction

What are the 5 common divisions in regional anatomy?

• Head & Neck

• Back & Thorax

• Upper limb

• Abdomen & Pelvis

• Lower limb

Describe the anatomical position

• Erect posture

• hands at side

• palms and feet facing forward

• gaze forward

When a subject is lying down, what two positions could they be in?

1. Supine position: lying on the back (face up)

2. Prone position: Lying on the front (face down)

these terms specify the position of the torso

Describe the primary anatomical planes

Frontal (coronal), sagittal, transverse (axial)

What is the difference between median, and parasagittal planes

Median divides the body into equal left and right halves, whereas parasagittal divides the body into unequal left and right halves

Name the anatomical axes with their coordinating planes

Sagittal: anterior, posterior

Frontal: medial, lateral

Transverse: superior, inferior

Describe the different axes above the brain stem

Rostral = Anterior

Caudal = Posterior

Dorsal = Superior

Ventral = Inferior

For feet and hands, dorsal is what?

the top of the hand or foot

What plane and axis does an olympic weight lifter move in?

Sagittal plane, frontal axis

What plane and axis does this ballerina move in?

Sagittal plane, frontal axis

What plane and axis does this cartwheeler move in?

Frontal plane, sagittal axis

What plane and axis does this baseball player move in?

Transverse plane, longitudinal axis

Name the anatomical movements for the elbow, shoulder, and scapula for a full push up

Down:

• elbow → flexion

• shoulder → horizontal abduction

• scapula → retraction

Up:

• elbow → extension

• shoulder → horizontal adduction

• scapula → protraction

Name the anatomical movements for the ankle, knee, and hip for a full squat

Down:

• ankle → dorsiflexion

• knee → flexion

• hip → flexion

Up:

• ankle → plantarflexion

• knee → extension

• hip → extension

Heres someone winding a pitch, Break it down by:

• Plane of motion

• Axis

• Joint movements at:

  • Shoulder

  • Elbow

  • Trunk

  • Hips

  • Scapula

Plane of motion → Transverse

Axis → Longitudinal

Joint movements:

• Shoulder (glenuhumeral) → Cocking phase: Horizontal abduction + external rotation Acceleration phase: Horizontal adduction + internal rotation

• Elbow → Cocking: Flexion Acceleration: Extension

• Trunk → External rotation → Internal rotation (power source)

• Hips → External rotation → Internal rotation (drives trunk rotation)

• Scapula → Retraction during cocking Protraction during acceleration