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Human Body Orientation
Dr Idara
Objectives
At the end of this slide, each student should be
able to:
List and describe the various body positions.
Define the body planes and associated
directional terms.
Locate and describe the body cavities and their
respective organs.
List and describe the anatomical divisions of
the abdominal region.
Identify and locate the various body regions.
Definition
Anatomy is the study of structure and the
physical relationships involved between body
systems.
It is from the Greek language which literally
means “to cut apart”.
The language of anatomy
Body positions
The body can assume many positions and
therefore have different orientations.
Scientists developed what is called the
anatomical position to avoid confusion.
The Anatomical position
In the anatomical
position, the body is
assumed to be standing
erect, face forward,
with feet parallel and
arms hanging at the
side, with palms facing
forward.
Other body positions
that are important to
note are prone, supine
e.t.c.
In the supine
position, the patient
is lying face upward,
on the back
In the prone
position, the patient
is lying face
downwards, on the
stomach.
Anatomical planes
A plane is an imaginary line drawn through the
body or organ to separate it into specific
regions.
Transverse or horizontal plane- divide the body
into superior and inferior parts.
Median or midsagittal plane- divides the body
into right and left halves.
Sagittal plane- run parallel to midsagittal but
aren’t always in the midline.
Frontal plane or coronal plane- divides the body
into anterior and posterior sections.
Terms of Movement
 Flexion
Indicates bending or
decreasing the angle
between the bones or
parts of the body.
It usually occurs in an
anterior direction.
 Dorsiflexion
This describes ankle joint
flexion. This occurs when
walking uphill or lifting the front
of the foot and toes off the
ground.
 Extension
Straightening or increasing
the angle between the
bones or parts of the
body.
It usually occurs in a
posterior direction.
 Plantarflexion
This occurs when one stands on
his/her toes.
 Hyperextension
This refers to extension of
a limb or part beyond the
normal limit.
It can cause injury, such as
“whiplash”.
 Abduction
Means moving away from
the median plane.
 Adduction
Means moving towards the
median plane.
 Circumduction
A circular movement
involving sequential
flexion, abduction,
extension, and adduction
in such a way that the
distal end of a part moves
in a circle.
 Rotation
Involves turning or
revolving a part of the
body around it’s
longitudinal axis, such as
turning one’s head to face
sideways.
Medial rotation- brings the
anterior surface of a limb
closer to the median
plane. Also called internal
rotation.
Lateral rotation- Takes the
anterior surface away
from the median plane.
Also called external
rotation.
Pronation
Rotates the radius
medially so that the palm
of the hand faces
posteriorly and it’s
dorsum faces anteriorly.
 Supination
Rotates the radius laterally and
uncrosses it from the ulna,
returning the pronated
forearm to the anatomical
position.
 Eversion
Moves the sole of the foot
away from the median plane,
turning the sole laterally.
 Inversion
Moves the sole of the foot
towards the median plane,
turning the sole medially.
 Opposition
Is the movement by which
the pad of the first digit (
thumb) is brought to
another digit pad.
This is the movement used
when buttoning a shirt,
pinch e.t.c.
Reposition
Describes the movement of
the first digit back to it’s
anatomical position.
 Protrusion
Is an anterior movement as
in protruding the mandible
( chin).
Elevation
Raises or moves a part
superiorly e.g. raising the
shoulders when shrugging
 Retrusion
Posterior movement as in
retruding the mandible.
Depression
Lowers or moves a part
inferiorly e.g. Depressing
the shoulders when
standing at ease.
Similar terms include
Protraction and
Retraction.
Directional terms
 Superior (cranial or cephalic) means toward the head or
upper body.
 Inferior (caudal) means away from the head or toward
the lower part of the body.
 Anterior (ventral) refers to body parts toward or on the
front of the body.
 Posterior (dorsal) refers to body parts toward or on the
back of the body.
 Medial refers to body parts located near the middle or
midline of the body.
 Lateral refers to body parts located away from the
midline
 Note: any body part can be either superior or inferior
depending on your reference point.
Proximal refers to body parts close to the point of
reference of the body.
Distal refers to the body parts away from the point
of reference.
External means on the outside.
Internal refers to structures on the inside.
Superficial means toward or at the body’s surface.
Deep means away from the body’s surface.
Central refers to locations near the center of the
body.
Peripheral refers to the extremities or the
surrounding.
Body cavities
The body has 2 cavities that house and protect
organs, the dorsal (posterior) cavity and the
ventral (anterior) cavity.
The larger anterior cavity is subdivided into the
thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity.
These two cavities are separated by the
diaphragm.
The thoracic cavity contains the heart, lungs and
large blood vessels.
The abdominopelvic cavity contains digestive
organs, urinary and reproductive organs.
Posterior Cavity
Also called the cranial cavity.
It houses the brain and spinal
cord
It is the smaller of the two
cavities.
Body regions
The abdomen can be divided into 4
quadrants and 9 regions.
4 quadrants
-upper left quadrant ULQ
-upper right quadrant URQ
Lower left quadrant LLQ
-lower right quadrant LRQ
9 regions
Epigastic region- located superior to the umbilical
region.
Right and left hypochondriac- located on either side
of the epigastric region and contain the lower ribs.
Umbilical- centrally placed, houses the naval or belly
button.
Right and left lumbar- lateral to the umbilical region.
Hypogastric region- lies inferior to the umbilical
region.
Left and right iliac or inguinal region- lateral to the
hypogastric region.
Any questions?
References
 Clinically Oriented Anatomy 6th Edition
Keith L. Moore , Arthur F. Daley, Anne M. R. Agur
 Google images