Download Directional Terms

2/6/2014
The Anatomical Position
• Standing erect
• Face and palms
directed forward
• Upper limbs hang
at sides
• ALL relational
descriptions are
based on this
position
Other Positions
• Supine
• Lying face upward
• Prone
• Lying face down
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2/6/2014
Planes of the body
• Median
• Divides body into equal right and
left halves
• Sagittal
• Separate right and left parts
• Frontal
• Divides anterior and posterior
parts
• Horizontal/ Transverse
• Divides superior and inferior
Directional Terms
• Superior
• A structure above another
• The chin is superior to the navel.
• Inferior
• A structure below another
• The navel is inferior to the chin.
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Directional Terms
• Anterior
• Towards the front of the body
• The navel is anterior to the spine.
• Posterior
• Towards the back of the body
• The spine is anterior to the navel.
Directional Terms
• Ventral
• Toward the belly
• The navel is ventral to the spine.
• Dorsal
• Toward the back
• The spine is dorsal to the navel.
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Directional Terms
• Lateral
• Away from the midline
• The shoulder is lateral to the sternum.
• Medial
• Toward the midline
• The eye is medial to the ear.
Directional Terms
• Proximal
• Closer to the point of attachment than another part
• The elbow is proximal to the wrist.
• Distal
• Farther from the point of attachment than another part
• The wrist is distal to the elbow.
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Directional Terms
• Superficial
• Toward or on the surface
• The skin is superficial to muscle.
• Deep
• Away from the surface
• The lungs are deep to the ribs.
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