BASIC

ANATOMICAL
TERMINOLOGY
DESCRIBING THE BODY
 Health care professionals need a language to use when
speaking or writing about a particular location of a structure
or area of the body.
 The anatomical position is a standardized method of observing
or imaging the body that allows precise and consistent
anatomical references.
ANATOMICAL POSITION

 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.
 Every other anatomical
position is described with
respect to this standard
position.
ANATOMICAL POSITIONS
 Anatomical positions are important
because they give us a frame of
reference for describing the body.
 Similar to a compass, they give us a
universal way to describe the position
of an organism.
 The concept of anatomical position is
particularly important in medicine, as
mistakes can occur if medical
professionals do not have a shared
point of reference for discussing
patients' bodies.
 The four main
anatomical positions
are: supine, prone,
right lateral
recumbent, and left
lateral recumbent.
 Each position is used
in different medical
circumstances.
SUPINE POSITION
 Supine position refers to a horizontal position with the face
and upper body facing up.
 In the supine position, the ventral side is up and the dorsal side
is down.
 A number of surgical procedures use the supine position,
particularly when access to the thoracic area/cavity is needed.
 Supine is the typical starting position for human dissection as
well as for autopsies.
PRONE POSITION
 Prone position refers to a horizontal position with the face and
upper body facing down.
 In the prone position, the dorsal side is up and the ventral side
is down.
 It is most commonly used for surgeries requiring access to the
spine.
 The prone position also helps to increase oxygenation in
patients with respiratory distress.
RIGHT LATERAL RECUMBENT POSITION

 The word "lateral" means "to the side," while

"recumbent" means "lying down."
 In the right lateral recumbent position, the individual
is lying on their right side.
 This position makes it easier to access a patient's
left side.
LEFT LATERAL RECUMBENT POSITION

 In this position, the individual is lying on their left side.

 This position makes it easier to access a patient's right
side.
FOWLER'S POSITIONS

 Fowler's position has a

person sitting up (straight
or with a slight lean).
 Fowler's position is named
after George Fowler, who
originally used the position
as a way to help with
peritonitis (inflammation of
the membrane lining of the
abdominal wall).
TRENDELENBURG’S POSITION
 Trendelenburg's position has the
person in a supine position with
the head about 30 degrees lower
than the feet.
 Trendelenburg's position is named
after Friedrich Trendelenburg and
is often used in surgery and to
improve venous blood return to
the heart.
OTHER POSITIONS
BODY PLANES

 A body plane is
an imaginary flat
surface that cuts
through the body
either horizontally
or vertically.
SAGITTAL PLANE
 Sometimes called
midsagittal, median
or midline plane.
 Passes from top to
bottom through the
center of the body
and divides it into
equal right and left
sides.
FRONTAL PLANE
 Also called
CORONAL plane.
 Divides the body
from top to bottom
through the center
and divides the body
into front and back
portions.
TRANSVERSE PLANE

 Divides the body

horizontally
(crosswise) into top
and bottom portions
DIRECTIONAL TERMS

 Directional terms are used to

precisely locate one part of the
body relative to another and to
reduce length of explanations.
ANTERIOR vs POSTERIOR
 ANTERIOR (OR VENTRAL)
Describes the front or direction
toward the front of the body.
 The toes are anterior to the
foot.

 POSTERIOR (OR DORSAL)

Describes the back or direction
toward the back of the body.
 The popliteus is posterior to the
patella.
SUPERIOR vs INFERIOR
 SUPERIOR (OR CRANIAL)
describes a position above or
higher than another part of the
body proper.
 The head is superior to the
shoulders.

 INFERIOR (OR CAUDAL)

describes a position below or
lower than another part of the
body proper; near or toward the
tail (in humans, the coccyx, or
lowest part of the spinal column).
 The pelvis is inferior to the
abdomen.
LATERAL vs MEDIAL
 LATERAL describes the
side or direction toward the
side of the body.
 The thumb (pollex) is lateral
to the digits.

 MEDIAL describes the

middle or direction toward
the middle of the body.
 The hallux is the medial toe.
PROXIMAL vs DISTAL
 PROXIMAL describes a
position in a limb that is nearer to
the point of attachment or the
trunk of the body.
 The elbow is proximal to the
shoulder.

 DISTAL describes a position in

a limb that is farther from the
point of attachment or the trunk of
the body.
 The wrist is distal to the shoulder.
SUPERFICIAL vs DEEP

 SUPERFICIAL
describes a position closer
to the surface of the body.
 The scalp is superficial to
the skull.

 DEEP describes a
position farther from the
surface of the body.
 The brain is deep to the
skull.
BODY CAVITIES
 Body cavities are spaces
within the body that help
protect, separate, and
support internal organs.

 DORSAL BODY CAVITY

 Protects the structures of the
Nervous System

 VENTRAL BODY CAVITY

 Protects the internal organs
DORSAL BODY CAVITY
 CRANIAL CAVITY
 Located in the skull and
contains the brain.

 SPINAL CAVITY
 Located within the
spinal column and
contains the spinal cord
VENTRAL BODY CAVITY
 THORACIC 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
surrounds the heart.
 The mediastinum is a broad,
median partition between the
lungs that extends from the
sternum to the vertebral column
that contains all contents of the
thoracic cavity except the lungs.
VENTRAL BODY CAVITY
 ABDOMINAL CAVITY
 Located in the abdomen and
contains the stomach, spleen,
pancreas, liver, gallbladder,
small intestine, and most of the
large intestine (the kidneys are
located behind the abdominal
cavity); collectively known as
the abdominal VISCERA.
 The abdominal and pelvic
cavities are continuous thus
sometimes referred to as
ABDOMINOPELVIC
cavity.
VENTRAL BODY CAVITY
 PELVIC CAVITY
 Located in the lower
abdomen.
 VISCERA of the
pelvic cavity include
the urinary bladder,
portions of the large
intestine and internal
female and male
reproductive
structures.

Other Cavities - ORBITAL
 Contains the eyes
and associated
muscles, nerves and
ducts
Other Cavities - NASAL
 Contains the
structures of the
nose
Other Cavities - BUCCAL

 Contains the teeth

and tongue
SEROUS MEMBRANE
 It is a thin, slippery membrane
that covers the viscera
(ORGANS) within the thoracic
and abdominal cavities and also
lines the walls of the thorax and
abdomen.
SEROUS MEMBRANE
 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.
ABDOMINOPELVIC CAVITY
 Serous fluid between the two
layers reduces friction and allows
the viscera to slide somewhat
during movements.
 The serous membranes include
the pleura, pericardium and
peritoneum.
PLEURA
 The serous
membrane of the
pleural cavity is the
pleura or pleural
membrane.
 Visceral pleura
clings to the
surface of the lungs
 Parietal pleura
lines the chest wall.
PERICARDIUM
 The serous
membrane of the
pericardial cavity is
the pericardium
 Visceral
pericardium covers
the surface of the
heart
 Parietal
pericardium lines
the chest wall.
PERITONEUM
 The serous
membrane of the
abdomino-pelvic
cavity is the
peritoneum
 Visceral peritoneum
covers the surface of
the abdomino-pelvic
viscera
 Parietal peritoneum
lines the abdomino-
pelvic cavity.
ABDOMINAL DESCRIPTIONS

 The abdominal area is so

large that it has been
divided into NINE REGIONS
so that specific areas can
be described with great
accuracy.
 The nine regions include the
lower portion of the thoracic
cavity and the abdominal
and pelvic cavities.
ABDOMINAL DESCRIPTIONS
 EPIGASTRIC REGION – “over the stomach,
just below the sternum (breastbone)
 RIGHT/LEFT HYPOCHONDRIAC REGION –
below the ribs on either side of the
epigastric region
 UMBILICAL REGION – around the umbilicus
(navel)
 LUMBAR REGION – extend anterior to
posterior on either side of the umbilical
region (a person may complain of lumbar or
back pain)
 HYPOGASTRIC REGION – “below the
stomach”, over the pubic area
 RIGHT/LEFT ILIAC (hip bone) REGION – on
either side of the hypogastric region; also
called RIGHT/LEFT INGUINAL AREAS.
ABDOMINAL DESCRIPTIONS

 Another approach used

in health care for
describing the
abdomen and locating
abdominopelvic
abnormality in clinical
studies divides the
region into FOUR
QUADRANTS.
ABDOMINOPELVIC QUADRANTS
RIGHT UPPER QUADRANT
 This will be assessed by
doctors for tenderness
and also localised pain
from organs such as the
gall bladder, liver, colon
(hepatic flexure),
duodenum, and the
upper part of the
pancreas.
 Pain and tenderness in
this area can be caused
by conditions such as
cholecystitis, hepatitis,
and also the beginnings
of a peptic ulcer.
RIGHT LOWER QUADRANT
 You will find the
following organs here -
female reproductive
organs (right fallopian
tube and ovary), colon
(upper portion), and the
appendix.
 If you were suffering
with appendicitis, for
example, the pain and
tenderness would be
localised to the right
lower quadrant.
LEFT UPPER QUADRANT
 Here you will find
various parts of the
colon - the bottom
portion and splenic
flexure, as well as the
adrenal gland and
also the kidney (left
portion), and you will
also find the spleen
and stomach,
pancreas, and also a
part of the liver (left
portion).
LEFT LOWER QUADRANT
 Found beneath the
umbilicus plane, you will
find the left fallopian
tube and ovary, and also
the left uterine tube in
women here.
 In both sexes you will
find the sigmoid and
bottom section of the
colon.
 Ovarian cysts can also
cause pain in this area,
and even tumours
associated with cancers,
including colon and
ovarian cancer.
The Anatomical Regions of the Body
 The anatomical
regions
compartmentalize
the human body.
 Just like on a map,
a region refers to
a certain area.
 The body is
divided into two
major portions:
axial and
appendicular.
AXIAL BODY

 The axial body runs

right down the center
(axis) and consists of
everything except the
limbs, meaning the
head, neck, thorax
(chest and back),
abdomen, and pelvis.
APPENDICULAR BODY
 The appendicular
body consists of
appendages,
otherwise known as
upper and lower
extremities (which
you call arms and
legs).
HEAD AND NECK REGION
THORAX REGION
 ABDOMINOPELVIC REGION

 Abdominal (abdomen)
 Gluteal (buttocks)
 Inguinal (bend of hip)
 Lumbar (lower back)
 Pelvic (area between hipbones)
 Perineal (area between anus
and external genitalia)
 Pubic (genitals)
 Sacral (end of vertebral column)
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF ANATOMIC REGIONS

1. Abdominal Region - Stomach Area 15. Epigastric Region - Upper Mid-Abdomen Area
2. Acromial Region - Shoulder Area 16. Femoral Region - Thigh Area
3. Antebrachial Region - Forearm Area 17. Fibular Region - Outer side of Leg Area
4. Antecubital Region - Front of Elbow Area 18. Frontal - Forehead Area
5. Axilliary Region - Armpit Area 19. Gluteal Region - Buttocks Area
6. Brachial Region - Upper Arm Area 20. Hallux Region - Big Toe Area
7. Buccal Region - Cheek Area 21. Hypogastric Region - Abdominal Area under
8. Calcanneal Region - Heel area Belly Button

9. Carpal Region - Wrist Area 22. Inguinal Region - Groin Area

10. Cephalic Region - Head Area 23. Left Hypochondriac - Left Upper Abdomen
Area
11. Cervical Region - Neck Area
24. Left Illiac (Inguinal) - Left Lower Abdominal
12. Coxal Region - Hip Area Area
13. Crural Region - Leg (shin) Area 25. Left Lumbar Region - Left Mid-Abdominal
14. Digital Region - Toes (and fingers) Area Region
 ALPHABETICAL LIST OF ANATOMIC REGIONS

26. Lumbar - Lower Back Area 41. Plantar Region - Sole of Foot Area
27. Mammary Region - Breast Area 42. Pollex Region - Thumb Area
28. Manus Region - Hand Area 43. Popliteal Region - Back of Knee
29. Mental (Mentis) - Chin Area 44. Pubic Region - Pubis (Genital) Area
30. Nasal Region - Nose Area 45. Right Hypochondriac Region - Right Upper
Abdomen Area
31. Occipital Region - Back of Head Area
32. Olecranal Region - Elbow Area 46. Right Iliac (Inguinal) - Right Lower Abdominal Area

33. Oral Region - Mouth Area 47. Right Lumbar Region - Right Mid-Abdominal Region
48. Sacral Region - Tail Bone Area
34. Orbital Region - Eye Area
35. Otic Region - Ear Area 49. Scapular Region - Shoulder Blade Area

36. Palmar Region - Palm Area 50. Sternal Region - Breastbone Area
51. Sural Region - Calf Area
37. Patellar Region - Knee Area
38. Pedal Region - Foot Area 52. Tarsal Region - Ankle Area

39. Pelvic Region - Pelvis Area 53. Thoracic Region - Chest Area
54. Umbilical Region - Belly Button Area
40. Perineal Region - Area Between Genitals and Anus
55. Vertebral Region - Spine Area
THANK YOU!