BASIC ANATOMICAL TERMINOLOGY

ANATOMICAL POSITION
 The anatomical position is a standardized method of observing or imaging the body that allows precise
and consistent anatomical references.
 When in the anatomical position, the subject stands erect facing the observer, the upper extremities are
placed at the sides, the palms of the hands are turned forward, and the feet are flat on the floor.

THE ANATOMICAL POSITION TERMINOLOGY

COMMON POSITIONS
Fowler’s
 Fowler’s position, is a bed position wherein the head and trunk are raised 40 to 90 degrees.
 Fowler’s position is used for people who have difficulty breathing because in this position, gravity pulls
the diaphragm downward allowing greater chest and lung expansion.
 In low Fowler’s or semi-Fowler’s position, the head and trunk are raised to 15 to 45 degrees; in high
Fowler’s, the head and trunk are raised 90 degrees.
 This position is useful for patients who have cardiac, respiratory, or neurological problems and is often
optimal for patients who have nasogastric tube in place.
 Using a footboard is recommended to keep the patient’s feet in proper alignment and to help prevent
foot drop.
Orthopneic or Tripod
 Orthopneic or tripod position places the patients in a sitting position or on the side of the bed with an
overbed table in front to lean on and several pillows on the table to rest on.
 Patients who are having difficulty breathing are often placed in this position since it allows maximum
expansion of the chest.

Dorsal Recumbent
 In dorsal recumbent or back-lying position, the client’s head and shoulders are slightly elevated on a
small pillow.
 This position provides comfort and facilitates healing following certain surgeries and anesthetics.
Supine or Dorsal position
 Supine is a back-lying position similar to dorsal recumbent but the head and shoulders are not elevated.
 Just like dorsal recumbent, supine position provides comfort in general for patients recover after some
types of surgery.

Prone
 In prone position, the patient lies on the abdomen with head turned to one side; the hips are not flexed.
 This is the only bed position that allows full extension of the hip and knee joints.
 Prone position also promotes drainage from the mouth and useful for clients who are unconscious or
those recover from surgery of the mouth or throat.
 Prone position should only be used when the client’s back is correctly aligned, and only for people with
no evidence of spinal abnormalities.
 To support a patient lying in prone, place a pillow under the head and a small pillow or a towel roll
under the abdomen.

Lateral position
 In lateral or side-lying position, the patient lies on one side of the body with the top leg in front of the
bottom leg and the hip and knee flexed.
 Flexing the top hip and knee and placing this leg in front of the body creates a wider, triangular base of
support and achieves greater stability.
 The greater the flexion of the top hip and knee, the greater the stability and balance in this position.
This flexion reduces lordosis and promotes good back alignment.
 Lateral position helps relieve pressure on the sacrum and heels in people who sit for much of the day or
confined to bed rest in Fowler’s or dorsal recumbent.
 In this position, most of the body weight is distributed to the lateral aspect of the lower scapula, the
lateral aspect of the ilium, and the greater trochanter of the femur.
Sims’ Position
 Sims’ is a semi-prone position where the patient assumes a posture halfway between the lateral and
prone positions. The lower arm is positioned behind the client, and the upper arm is flexed at the
shoulder and the elbow. Both legs are flexed in front of the client. The upper leg is more acutely flexed
at both the hip and the knee, than is the lower one.
 Sims’ may be used for unconscious clients because it facilitates drainage from the mouthand
prevents aspiration of fluids.
 It is also used for paralyzed clients because it reduces pressure over the sacrum and greater trochanter
of the hip.
 It is often used for clients receiving enemas and occasionally for clients undergoing examinations or
treatments of the perineal area.
 Pregnant women may find the Sims position comfortable for sleeping.
 Support proper body alignment in Sims’s position by placing a pillow underneath the patient’s head and
under the upper arm to prevent internal rotation. Place another pillow between legs.

Trendelenburg’s
 Trendelenburg’s position involves lowering the head of the bed and raising the foot of the bed of the
patient.
 Patient’s who have hypotension can benefit from this position because it promotes venous return.

Reverse Trendelenburg
 Reverse Trendelenburg is the opposite of Trendelenburg’s position.
 Here the HOB is elevated with the foot of bed down.
 This is often a position of choice for patients with gastrointestinal problems as it can help minimize
esophageal reflux.
PLANES - Planes are imaginary flat surfaces that are used to divide the body or organs into definite areas.
SECTIONS- Sections are flat surfaces resulting from cuts through body structures. They are named according to
the plane on which the cut is made and include transverse, frontal, and midsagittal.
REGIONAL NAMES - Are names given to specific regions of the body for reference.

1. Abdominal - Abdomen
2. Acromial - Tip of shoulder
3. Antebrachial - Forearm below elbow
4. Axillary - Armpit
5. Brachial - Upper arm above elbow
6. Buccal - Cheek area
7. Calcaneal - Heel
8. Carpal - Wrist
9. Cephalic - Head
10. Cervical - Neck
11. Costal - Rib
12. Coxal - Hip
13. Cranial - Skull
14. Crural - Leg
15. Digital - Toes or fingers
16. Dorsal - Back
17. Facial - Face
18. Femoral - Thigh
19. Frontal - Forehead
20. Genital- Penis
21. Gluteal- Buttocks
22. Inguinal- Groin
23. Lumbar- Low back
24. Mammary- Nipple/breast
25. Nasal - Nose
27. Oral- Mouth
28. Orbital - Eyes
29. Otic - Ear
30. Palmar - Palm
31. Patellar - Knee
32. Pectoral - Chest
33. Pedal - Foot
34. Pelvic - Pelvis
35. Popliteal - Back of knee
36. Sacral - relating to the sacrum (= the triangular-shaped bone at the base of the back)
37. Scapular - Shoulder blade
38. Sternal - Breast bone cavity
39. Sural – Calf
40.Thoracic - chest
41. Umbilical - Belly button
42. Vertebral - Spinal column

DIRECTIONAL TERMS - Directional terms are used to precisely locate one part of the body relative to another
and to reduce length of explanations.

1. Superior or cranial - toward the head end of the body; upper (example, the hand is part of the superior
extremity).
2. Inferior or caudal - away from the head; lower (example, the foot is part of the inferior extremity).
3. Anterior or ventral - front (example, the kneecap is located on the anterior side of the leg).
4. Posterior or dorsal - back (example, the shoulder blades are located on the posterior side of the body).
5. Medial - toward the midline of the body (example, the middle toe is located at the medial side of the
foot).
6. Lateral - away from the midline of the body (example, the little toe is located at the lateral side of the
foot).
7. Proximal - toward or nearest the trunk or the point of origin of a part (example, the proximal end of the
femur joins with the pelvic bone).
8. Distal - away from or farthest from the trunk or the point or origin of a part (example, the hand is
located at the distal end of the forearm).
Other DIRECTIONAL TERMS
 External (Outer)
 Internal (Inner)
 Central (Center)
 Peripheral (Around the area)
 Parietal- denoting the wall of the body or of a body cavity or hollow structure.
 Visceral- the internal organs in the main cavities of the body, especially those in the abdomen.

AREAS OF THE BODY

BODY CAVITIES - Body cavities are spaces within the body that help protect, separate, and support internal
organs or structures.

Dorsal Body Cavity - The dorsal body cavity is located near the dorsal (back) surface of the body and has two
subdivisions, the cranial cavity and the vertebral canal.

 The cranial cavity is formed by the cranial bones and contains the brain.
 The vertebral (spinal) canal is formed by the bones of the vertebral column and contains the spinal cord.
 Three layers of protective tissue, called meninges, line the dorsal body cavity.

Ventral Body Cavity - The ventral body cavity is subdivided by the diaphragm into an upper thoracic cavity and a
lower abdominopelvic cavity.

 The thoracic cavity contains two pleural cavities, and the mediastinum, which includes the pericardial
cavity.
 The pleural cavities enclose the lungs.
 The pericardial cavity encloses the heart and great vessels.
 The mediastinum is a broad, median partition between the lungs that extends from the sternum
to the vertebral column, it contains all contents of the thoracic cavity except the lungs.
 The abdominopelvic cavity is divided into a superior abdominal and an inferior pelvic cavity.
 Viscera of the abdominal cavity include the stomach, spleen, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, small
intestine, and most of the large intestine
 Viscera of the pelvic cavity include the urinary bladder, portions of the large intestine and
internal female and male reproductive structures.
Thoracic and Abdominal Cavity Membranes - A thin, slippery serous membrane covers the viscera within the
thoracic and abdominal cavities and also lines the walls of the thorax and abdomen.
 Parts of the serous membrane are the parietal layer which lines the walls of the cavities and the visceral
layer which covers and adheres to the viscera within the cavities.
 Serous fluid between the two layers reduces friction and allows the viscera to slide somewhat during
movements.
 The serous membranes include the
o Pleura
o Pericardium
o Peritoneum

PLEURA (Pleural Membrane)

 The pleural membrane surrounds the lungs, with the visceral pleura clinging to the surface of the lungs
and the parietal pleura lining the chest wall.

PERICARDIUM (Pericardial Membarane)

 The serous membrane of the pericardial cavity is the pericardium, with visceral pericardium covering
the surface of the heart and the parietal pericardium lining the chest wall.

PERITONEUM (Peritoneal Membrane)

 The peritoneum is the serous membrane of the abdominal cavity, with the visceral peritoneum covering
the abdominal viscera and the parietal peritoneum lining the abdominal wall.

ABDOMINOPELVIC REGIONS - To describe the location of organs easily, the abdominopelvic cavity may be
divided into nine regions by drawing four imaginary lines.
Location of various organs in the Abdomen according to the region:

Abdomen Regions Organs

Right Hypochondriac Region
Left Hypochondriac Region
Epigastric Region
Right Lumbar Region
Left Lumbar Region
Umbilical Region
Right Iliac Region
Left Iliac Region
Hypogastric Region
Liver, Gallbladder, Right Kidney, Small Intestine
Spleen, Colon, Left Kidney, Pancreas
Stomach, Liver, Pancreas, Duodenum, Spleen, Adrenal Glands
Gallbladder, Liver, Right Colon
Descending Colon, Left Kidney
Umbilicus, Jejunum, Ileum, Duodenum
Appendix, Cecum
Descending Colon, Sigmoid Colon
Urinary Bladder, Sigmoid Colon, Female Reproductive Organs

ABDOMINOPELVIC QUADRANTS - To locate the site of an abdominopelvic abnormality in clinical studies, the
abdominopelvic cavity may be divided into quadrants by passing imaginary horizontal and vertical lines through
the umbilicus.