Basic Knowledge

BODY POSITIONS

  • Anatomical Position:

    • Standing upright, facing forward, arms at sides, palms forward.

  • Prone Position:

    • Lying face down.

  • Supine Position:

    • Lying face up.

DIRECTIONAL TERMS

  1. Superior (Cephalic/Cranial):

    • Definition: Towards the head (Upper).

    • Mnemonic: Super-Head.

  2. Inferior:

    • Definition: Away from the head (Lower).

    • Mnemonic: Feet are inferior.

  3. Anterior (Ventral):

    • Definition: Front of body.

    • Mnemonic: Abs are anterior.

  4. Posterior (Dorsal):

    • Definition: Back of body.

    • Mnemonic: Spine Findsimilar.

  5. Medial:

    • Definition: Towards midline.

    • Mnemonic: Middle is medial.

  6. Lateral:

    • Definition: Away from midline.

    • Mnemonic: Limbs are lateral.

  7. Ipsilateral:

    • Definition: Same side.

    • Mnemonic: Same side, Ipsilateral (SI).

  8. Contralateral:

    • Definition: Opposite side.

    • Mnemonic: Cross to Contralateral (CC).

  9. Proximal:

    • Definition: Closer to the point of attachment (e.g., shoulder proximal to elbow).

    • Mnemonic: 'P' for Proximity.

  10. Distal:

    • Definition: Further from the point of attachment (e.g., fingers are distal to wrist).

    • Mnemonic: 'D' for Distance.

  11. Superficial:

    • Definition: Towards or on the body surface.

    • Mnemonic: 'S' for Surface.

  12. Deep:

    • Definition: Away from the body surface, more internal.

    • Mnemonic: 'D' for Down deep.

PLANES OF THE BODY

  • Planes: Imaginary flat surfaces passing through the body.

  • Sagittal Plane:

    • Definition: Vertical plane dividing the body into right and left parts.

  • Midsagittal Plane:

    • Definition: Divides into equal right and left halves (midline).

  • Parasagittal Plane:

    • Definition: Divides into unequal right and left parts.

  • Frontal (Coronal) Plane:

    • Definition: Vertical plane dividing into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts.

  • Transverse (Horizontal) Plane:

    • Definition: Horizontal plane dividing into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts.

  • Oblique Plane:

    • Definition: Cuts at an angle other than 9090 degrees.

BODY CAVITIES

  • Cranial Cavity:

    • Definition: Contains the brain, formed by cranial bones.

    • Mnemonic: "C" for Cranium/Cap.

  • Vertebral Canal:

    • Definition: Contains the spinal cord, formed by vertebral bones. Together with the cranial cavity, houses the Central Nervous System (CNS).

  • Thoracic Cavity (Chest Cavity):

    • Definition: Formed by ribs, sternum, and vertebrae. Houses heart and lungs.

  • Pericardial Cavity:

    • Definition: Specific space containing the heart.

  • Mediastinum:

    • Definition: Central space between the lungs, housing the heart, esophagus, trachea, and large vessels.

  • Pleural Cavity:

    • Definition: Space surrounding each lung.

  • Diaphragm:

    • Definition: Dome-shaped muscle separating the thoracic and abdominal pelvic cavities.

  • Abdominopelvic Cavity:

    • Definition: Divided into two parts.

    • Abdominal Cavity: Contains stomach, liver, gallbladder, spleen, small intestine, and most of large intestine.

    • Pelvic Cavity: Contains urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum.