Body Structure

Anatomical Position

  • Healthcare professionals need a language to use when working with a particular location or area of the body
  • The main frame of reference is called anatomical position;
    • __B__ody erect
    • __F__eet apart
    • __P__alms forward
    • __T__oes forward
  • This is a full, upright position with eyes, palms and feet facing forward
  • When referring to a structure, that is on one side of the body or the other, we use the terms “anatomical right” and “anatomical left”

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General Regions of Anatomical Position

  • Anatomical position is standard for both a front and rear plane
  • The front is referred to as anterior
  • The rear is referred to as posterior
  • The top is called superior
  • The bottom is called inferior
  • The sides are called lateral
  • The middle is called medial

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Proximal and Distal

  • Proximal is closest to the origin or toward the trunk
    • Ex. the shoulder is proximal to the hand
  • Distal is farthest from the original or away from the trunk
    • Ex. the ankle is distal to the thigh

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Body Cavities

  • Within the body there are spaces called cavities
  • These cavities contain and protect the internal organs
    • Cranial
    • Spinal
    • Thoracic
    • Abdominal
    • Pelvic

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Body Planes

  • The body is described in 3 planes of study
    • The sagittal plane is down the midline and separates the right from the left sides of the body
    • The transverse plane is in the middle and separates the superior from the anterior
    • The coronal plane is down the lateral sides and separates the anterior from the posterior of the body