Intro to the Human Body – Directional Terms, Planes, Quadrants, and Regions

HST I

Correct Anatomical PositionStanding

Feet together

Arms at sides

Head and eyes forward

Palms facing forward

Used when describing anatomical positions and locations

Directional Terms

Used to describe the anatomical position of a body part in relation to another

Directional Terms Superior or cranial (cranial used with animals)

toward the head end of the body; upper; above(example, the head is superior to the neck).

Inferior or caudal (caudal used with animals)away from the head; lower; toward the tailbone (example, the mouth is inferior to the nose).

Anterior or ventral (ventral used with animals)front (example, the teeth are anterior to the tongue).

Posterior or dorsal (dorsal used with animals)back (example, the shoulder blades are posterior to the ribs).

Medial toward the midline of the body (example, the big toe is medial to the little toe).

Directional Terms Lateral

away from the midline of the body; toward the sides (example, the ears are lateral to the cheekbone).

Proximal toward or nearest the trunk or the point of origin of a part (example, the elbow is proximal to the wrist)

Distal away from or farthest from the trunk or the point or origin of a part (example, the fingers are distal to the hand)

Internal within the body

Externaloutside the body

Directional TermsFlexion Decreasing the angle between two

bonesExtension Increasing the angle between two

bonesAfferent Carrying toward a centerEfferent Carrying away from a centerAdduction Moving toward the midlineAbduction Moving away from the midline

Eversion Turning a body part outwardInversion Turning a body part inwardPronation Turning a body part downward

(pointing toe)Supination Turning a body part upward

(shrugging shoulders)

Deep Away from the body surface, more internal

Superficial Toward or at the body surfacePlantar Toward the sole of the footPalmar Toward the palm of the hand

Directional TermsUsually written with the opposing direction. For example:

Superior / Inferior

Lateral / Medial

Proximal / Distal

Practice:◦The wrist is ___________ to the hand.

◦The breastbone is ________ to the spine.

◦The brain is _______ to the spinal cord.

◦The lungs are ______ to the stomach.

◦The thumb is ___________ to the fingers.

The ears are __________ to the nose.

◦The knee is __________ to the ankle

Answers:◦The wrist is _____proximal_______ to the

hand. ◦The breastbone is __ventral______ to the

spine. ◦The brain is __superior_____ to the spinal

cord. ◦The lungs are _superior______ to the

stomach. ◦The thumb is __lateral_________ to the

fingers. ◦The ears are __lateral___________ to the

nose. ◦The knee is ____proximal_______ to the

ankle.

Abdominal QuadrantsDivides the abdomen into 4 quadrants

by midsagittal and a transverse planesIntersection occurs at the belly button

(navel or umbilicus)Used when describing pain or injury to

a patient OR for locating internal organs

Labeled as ◦ RUQ – right upper quadrant◦ RLQ – right lower quadrant◦ LUQ – left upper quadrant◦ LLQ – left lower quadrant

Abdominal Quadrants

Remember – right and left refers to the PATIENT’s right and left NOT YOURS

RUQ:LIVERGALLBLADDER DUODENUMRIGHT KIDNEY AND

ADRENALLARGE INTESTINE

LUQ:STOMACHSPLEENPANCREASLEFT KIDNEY AND

ADRENALLARGE INTESTINE

RLQ:LARGE INTESTINESMALL INTESTINEAPPENDIXRIGHT OVARY AND FALLOPIAN TUBE (females)RIGHT URETER

LLQ:SMALL INTESTINELARGE INTESTINELEFT OVARY AND FALLOPIAN TUBE (females)LEFT URETER

Abdominopelvic (or Abdominal) Regions

9 total regions◦Remember – right and left refers to the PATIENT’s right and left NOT YOURS

Right and left hypochondriacRight and left lumbarRight and left iliacEpigastricUmbilicalHypogastric

Abdominopelvic (or Abdominal) Regions

Review:

Body Planes4 anatomical planes that pass through the body when in anatomical position◦Sagittal = any left and right separation

◦Midsagittal = equal right and left separation (down the middle or midline of the body)

◦Transverse(Horizontal) = top and bottom (superior and inferior)

◦Coronal (Frontal) = front and back (anterior and posterior)

◦Oblique = at an angle between horizontal and vertical planes

Body Planes

Body Cavities

1. Cranial Cavity2. Spinal Cavity

(looking through body at spine)

3. Mediastinum4. Pleural Cavity5. Pericardial

Cavity6. Diaphragm7. Abdominal

Cavity8. Pelvic Cavity 9. Abdominopelvic

Cavity10. Anterior

(Ventral Cavity)

Body Cavities

1. Cranial cavity - brain2. (1 and 3) Posterior

(Dorsal) Cavity 3. Spinal cavity –

spinal cord4. Thoracic cavity –

heart, lungs, esophagus, trachea

5. Diaphragm6. Abdominal cavity –

stomach, spleen, liver, gallbladder, small intestine and most of large intestine

7. Pelvic cavity – part of large intestine, urinary bladder, reproductive organs

(4- 7) Anterior (Ventral) Cavity

Medical Abbreviations:(A)@ atA&P Anterior and

Posterior ORAnatomy and

Physiologyaa of eachabol abdomen/abdominalab partial abortionac before mealsADL activities of daily

living

adm admissionamb ambulateamt amountAIDS Acquired Immune

Deficiency Syndrome

AD right earAS left earASA aspirinAU both ears

AP apical pulseAMA American Medical

AssociationANA American Nurses

Associationapproxapproximately

aq or aqua aqueousASAP as soon as possible

av averageAx axillary