DIRECTIONAL TERMS,

PLANES, POSITIONS,
REGIONS AND QUADRANTS
UNIT 3
 OBJECTIVES
1. Define and spell word parts related to directional
terms.
2. Define, pronounce, and spell used terms to
describe directions with respect to the body.
3. Define, pronounce, and spell used terms to
describe the anatomic planes.
4. Define, pronounce, and spell used terms to
describe body positions
 OBJECTIVES
5. Define, pronounce, and spell used terms to
describe the abdominopelvic regions.
6. Identify and spell the four abdominopelvic
quadrants.
7. Interpret the meaning of abbreviations presented
in this chapter.
8. Interpret, read, and comprehend medical language
in simulated medical statements and documents.
Purpose of Directional Terms, Planes,
Positions and Quadrants
Directional terms: used to describe the relative
position of one part of the body in relation to
another.
Anatomic planes: used to identify or view the
location of organs and anatomical structures.
Body position terms: used to communicate how the
patient’s body is placed for examination, diagnostic
procedures, surgery, treatment and recovery.
Purpose of Directional Terms, Planes,
Positions and Quadrants
Abdominal regions: used in relation to physical
examinations and medical history to describe
signs and symptoms.
Abdominal quadrants: division of the
abdominopelvic area into four quadrants by
using imaginary vertical and horizontal lines that
interact at the umbilicus.
Anatomic Positions
Body is viewed as erect, arms at the side with
palms of the hands facing forward, and feet
placed side by side.
Whether the patient is standing or lying down
face up, the direction terms are the same.
Combining Forms for Directional
Terms
Anter/o later/o
Caud/o Medi/o
Cephal/o Poster/o
Dist/o Proxim/o
Dors/o Super/o
Infer/o Ventr/o
Combining Defintion
form
Anter/o Front
Caud/o Tail (downward)
Cephal/o Head (upward)
Dist/o Away (from the point of attachment of a body part)
Dors/o Back
Infer/o Below
Later/o Side
Medi/o Middle
Poster/o Back, behind
Proxim/o Near (the point of attachment of a body part)
Super/o Above
Ventr/o Belly
Prefixes and Suffixes
PREFIXES:
bi-
uni-

SUFFIXES:
-ad
-ior
Prefixes and Suffixes

Prefix Definition
Bi- Two
Uni- One
Suffix Definition
-ad Toward
-ior Pertaining to
DIRECTIONAL TERMS
Caudad
Cephalad
Lateral
Medial
Bilateral
Unilateral
Distal
Proximal
 Directional terms
Directional Term Definition
caudad Toward the tail
cephalad Toward the head
lateral Pertaining to a side
medial Pertaining to the middle
unilateral Pertaining to one side
bilateral Pertaining to two sides
mediolateral Pertaining to the middle and to the side
distal Pertaining to away (from the point of attachment of a
body part)
proximal Pertaining to near(to the point of attachment of a body
part)
Directional Term (2)
inferior ventral

superior anteroposterior (AP)

caudal posteroanterior(PA)

cephalic

anterior

posterior

dorsal
Directional Term Definition
inferior Pertaining to below
superior Pertaining to above
caudal Pertaining to the tail (similar to inferior)
cephalic Pertaining to the head
anterior Pertaining to the front
posterior Pertaining to the back
dorsal Pertaining to the back
ventral Pertaining to the belly
anteroposterior Pertaining to the front and the back
posteroanterior Pertaining to the back and the front
Chest x-ray position
Which of the following means two
sides?
a) Unilateral

b) Lateral

c) Bilateral
Anatomic Planes
Planes are imaginary flat fields used as points of
reference to identify or view the location of
organs and anatomical structures.
Anatomic planes are frequently used in
diagnostic imaging and surgery.
The body is assumed to be in the anatomic
position unless specified otherwise.
Anatomic Planes
Frontal or coronal: vertical field passing through
the body , from side to side, dividing the body
into anterior and posterior portions.
Median (midsagittal ): vertical field running
through the body, from front to back at the
midline, dividing body equally into right and left
halves.
Anatomic Planes
Anatomic Planes
Sagittal: vertical field running through the body from front to
back, dividing the body into right and left sides (any plane
parallel to the midsagittal plane )
Parasagittal: vertical field running through the body front to
back , dividing the body into unequal left and right sides.
Transverse or axial: horizontal field dividing the body into
superior and inferior portion.
BODY POSITIONS
Fowler position: semi-sitting position with slight
elevation of the knees
Lithotomy position: lying on back with legs
raised and feet in stirrups
Prone position: lying on abdomen, facing
downward (head may be turned in one side)
Orthopnea position: sitting erect in a chair or
sitting upright in bed supported by pillow behind
the head and chest (orthopneic position)
Recumbent position: lying down in any position
Sims position: lying on left side with right knee
drawn up and and with left arm drawn behind,
parallel to the back.
Supine position: lying on back, facing upward.
Trendelenburg position: lying on back with body
tilted so that the head is lower than the feet.
ABDOMINOPELVIC REGIONS
To assist medical personal in locating medical problems
with greater accuracy and for identification purposes, the
abdomen is divided into nine regions:

- hypocondriac

- epigastric

- lumbar (right or left)

- umbilical

- iliac (right or left) (also called inguinal region)

- hypogastric
Term Definition
Umbilical region Around the navel
Lumbar region To the right and left of the umbilical region, near the
waist
Epigastric region Superior to the umbilical region, generally above the
stomach
Hipochondriac region To the right and left of the epigastric region
Hypogastric region Inferior to the umbilical region
Iliac region To the right and left of the hypogastric region, near
the groin (also called the inguinal region)
BODY ORGANS FOUND IN THE
ABDOMINOPELVIC REGIONS
ABDOMINOPELVIC QUADRANTS
The abdominopelvic area can also be divided in four
quadrants.
These divisions are used by health professional to specify an
anatomic position and to describe pain, incisions, marking,
lesions.
The quadrants provide a more general denotation than the
abdominopelvic regions.
They are used in describing signs and symptoms from the
physical exam and medical history.
Abdominal quadrants
Term Definition
Right upper Refers to the area encompassing the right lobe of
quadrant(RUQ) the liver, the gallbladder, part of the pancreas, and
portions of the small and large intestine
Left upper quadrant(LUQ) Refers to the area encompassing the left lobe of
the liver, the stomach, the spleen, part of the
pancreas, and portions of the small and large
intestines
Right lower quadrant(RLQ) Refers to the area encompassing portions of the
small and large intestines, the appendix, the right
ureter, and the right ovary and uterine tube in
women or the right spermatic duct in men.
Left lower quadrant(LLQ) Refers to the area encompassing portions of the
small and large intestines, the left ureter, and left
ovary and uterine tube in women or the left
spermatic duct in men.
ABDOMINOPELVIC QUADRANTS
ABBREVIATIONS
ant PA

AP RLQ

inf RUQ

lat sup

LLQ

LUQ

med
ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviation Meaning
ant anterior
AP anteroposterior
inf inferior
lat lateral
LLQ Left lower quadrant
LUQ Left upper quadrant
med medial
PA posterioranterior
RLQ Right lower quadrant
RUQ Right upper quadrant
sup superior
Medical Document
A patient presented to her physician with pain in
the right lumbar region and right unilateral leg
pain. The pain was felt in the posterior portion of
the leg and radiated to the distal lateral portion
of the extremity. There was some proximal
muscle weakness reported of the affected leg. A
lumbar spine radiograph was normal. If the pain
does not respond to anti-inflammatory
medication, she will be referred to an
orthopedist.