Language of Anatomy Anatomical Position and Directional Terms

To describe body parts and position accurately, we need an initial reference point and must indicate direction The anatomical reference point is a standard body position called the Anatomical Position Anatomical Position: position in which the body is:
Erect with feet only slightly apart Palms face forward Thumbs point away from the body

REGION TERMS

REGION TERMS

Language of Anatomy Anatomical Position and Directional Terms

In anatomical position, right and left refer to the right and left sides of the person viewedNOT those of the observer In anatomy, anatomical position is always assumed, regardless of the actual position of the body

Language of Anatomy Anatomical Position and Directional Terms

Directional terms are used to explain exactly where one body part is in relation to another
Example:
The ears are located on each side of the head to the right and left of the nose Using anatomical terminology, this condenses to,:
The ears are lateral to the nose Saves words and is less ambiguous Anatomical meanings are VERY PRECISE

Orientation and Directional Terms

Orientation and Directional Terms

Orientation and Directional Terms

Regional Terms
There are two fundamental divisions of the body:
Axial region:
Makes up the main axis of our body Includes the head, neck, and trunk

Appendicular region:
Consists of the appendages, or limbs Attached to the bodys axis Consists of the upper and lower limbs

Regional terms are used to designate specific areas within the major body divisions
The common term for each of these body regions is provided (in parentheses)

REGION TERMS

REGION TERMS

Body Planes and Sections

For anatomical studies, the body is often sectioned (cut) along a flat surface called a plane
Body planes are flat surfaces that lie at right angles to each other
Sagittal plane: a vertical plane that separates the body into right and left parts
Median, or midsagittal plane: lies exactly along the bodys midline Parasagittal plane (para=near): lies offset from the midline

Frontal plane: a vertical plane that separates the body into anterior and posterior parts Transverse, or horizontal, plane: a plane that runs horizontally from right to left, and divides the body into superior and inferior parts

BODY PLANES

Body Planes and Sections

Transverse, or horizontal, plane: a plane that runs horizontally from right to left, and divides the body into superior and inferior parts
Many different transverse planes exist, at every possible level from head to foot
Transverse section, or cross section, is a cut made along the transverse plane
Oblique sections are cuts made at angles between the horizontal and vertical planes

The ability to interpret sections made through the body, especially transverse sections, is important in the clinical sciences
New medical imaging devices produce sectional images rather than three-dimensional images

BODY PLANES

Abdominopelvic Regions
Because the abdominopelvic cavity is large and contains several organs, it helps to divide it into smaller areas for study
Cavity divided into 9 regions
Umbilical region: centermost region deep to and surrounding the umbilicus (navel) Epigastric region: located superior to the umbilical region (epi=upon, above; gastri=belly) Hypogastric (pubic) region: located inferior to the umbilical region (hypo=below)

ABDOMINAL REGION

ABDOMINAL REGIONS

Abdominopelvic Regions
Right and left iliac, or inguinal regions: located lateral to the hypogastric region (iliac=superior part of the hip bone)(inguinal=groin: between thigh and trunk) Right and left lumbar regions: lie lateral to the umbilical region (lumbus=loin: between ribs and pelvis) Right and left hypochondriac regions: flank the epigastric region laterally (chondro=cartilage)

ABDOMINAL REGION

ABDOMINAL REGIONS

Quadrants
Medical personnel usually use a simpler scheme to localize the abdominopelvic cavity organs In this scheme, one transverse and one median sagittal plane pass through the umbilicus at right angles
The resulting quadrants are named according to their positions from the subjects point of view :
Right upper quadrant (RUQ) Left upper quadrant (LUQ) Right lower quadrant (RLQ) Left lower quadrant (LLQ)

ABDOMINAL REGION

Abdominal Regions and Abdominal regions divide the abdomen into nine Quadrants
regions

 Abdominal quadrants divide the abdomen into four quadrants Right upper and left upper quadrants Right lower and left lower quadrants

Abdominal Quadrants

Medical Imaging
X-ray (radiograph) CAT: Ccomputerized axial tomography Xenon CT DSR: Dynamic spatial reconstruction DSA: Digital subtraction angiography PET: Positron emission tomography Sonography (ultrasound imaging) MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging MRS: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy

IMAGING