ANAPHY NOTES

Anatomical Position

  • Standard reference position to describe body parts

  • Person stands erect with feet flat and directed forward; arms at the sides; palms facing forward; head level; eyes forward

Directional Terms

  • Anterior (ventral): front or belly side

  • Posterior (dorsal): back side

  • Superior: toward the top of the head; used for the axial region

  • Inferior: away from the top of the head; used for the axial region

  • Medial: toward the midline of the body

  • Lateral: away from the midline

  • Proximal: closer to the body (trunk)

  • Distal: farther from the body

  • Superficial: closer to the surface

  • Deep: farther from the surface

  • Ipsilateral: same side of the body

  • Contralateral: opposite side of the body

Anatomical Regions

  • Axial region: head, neck, and trunk

    • Cranial (cephalic), Facial, Orbital (eye), Buccal (cheek), Nasal, Oral (mouth), Mental (chin)

    • Cervical (neck), Thoracic (thorax), Abdominal (abdomen), Umbilical (navel)

    • Pectoral (chest), Sternal (breastbone), Mammary (breast), Pelvic (pelvis)

    • Inguinal (groin), Pelvic, Pubic (genital)

  • Appendicular region: limbs (arms and legs)

    • Upper limb: Brachial (arm), Antebrachial (forearm), Carpal (wrist), Palmar (palm), Digital (fingers), Pollex (thumb)

    • Lower limb: Coxal (hip), Femoral (thigh), Patellar (kneecap), Crural (leg), Dorsum (top of foot), Pedal (foot), Hallux (big toe)

    • Distal and proximal relationships apply within limbs

Body Cavities and Serous Membranes

  • Dorsal body cavities: cranial cavity and vertebral (spinal) canal

    • Protected by meninges: dura mater, arachnoid, pia mater

  • Ventral body cavities: thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity (divided by the diaphragm)

    • Thoracic cavity contains viscera (e.g., heart and lungs)

    • Abdominopelvic cavity contains abdominal and pelvic viscera

  • Serous membranes: parietal and visceral layers with serous fluid

    • Pleura (around lungs)

    • Pericardium (around heart)

    • Peritoneum (abdominopelvic viscera)

Abdominal Quadrants and Nine Regions

  • Abdominal quadrants: Right upper, Left upper, Right lower, Left lower (RUQ, LUQ, RLQ, LLQ)

  • Nine-region designations (bounded by subcostal line, trans tubercular line, and midclavicular lines):

    • Right hypochondriac, Epigastric, Left hypochondriac

    • Right lumbar, Umbilical, Left lumbar

    • Right iliac (inguinal), Hypogastric, Left iliac

Anatomical Planes and Axes

  • Anatomical planes

    • Sagittal (S): vertical plane that divides left and right

    • Frontal/Coronal (F): vertical plane that divides front (anterior) and back (posterior)

    • Transverse (T): horizontal plane that divides superior and inferior

    • Oblique (O): any plane at an angle

  • Key terms

    • Midsagittal plane: sagittal plane that passes through the center

    • Parasagittal plane: sagittal plane parallel to the midsagittal but offset

  • Anatomical axes

    • Longitudinal (craniocaudal) axis

    • Transverse (horizontal) axis

    • Sagittal (anterior-posterior) axis

Quick Reference: Terms in Practice

  • Planes are used to section the body and describe locations relative to them

  • Axes describe directions along which the body can be sliced

  • Regions and quadrants help localize organs for exam and clinical reference