Anatomical Terminology | Human Body Position

Anatomical Terminology

CHAPTER PREVIEW

Anatomical position

Directional terms

Terms of movements at joints

Body planes and sections

Anatomical landmarks

Learning Outcome

1. What is anatomical position

2. Stale other body positions

3. Name and describe the four planes used in making sections of the body or body parts

4. How do sagittal, transverse, and coronal planes differ from one another

5. Define each directional term used to describe the body 

6. Name some regional terms

7. Define each terms of body movement

8. Name important terms used in osteology 

9. Try to tell some important anatomical words

BODY POSITIONS

• What is Anatomical position?

Anatomical position

This is the position for all anatomical descriptions: The body is in the upright position with the head facing forward, the upper limbs at the sides with the palms of the hands facing forward and the feet together with the toes directed forward.

Prone position

Supine position

If the body is lying flat on back with the face up, it is in the supine position.

Right lateral recumbent position 

Left lateral recumbent position

Fowler's position

Lithotomy position

DIRECTIONAL TERMS (For Relationship)

These are paired terms that have opposite meanings, used to describe the human body in relation to one another. For example:

Superior / Inferior, Anterior / Posterior; Medial / Lateral; Proximal /Distal; Superficial / Deep; Internal/External; Ipsilateral / contralateral etc.

REGIONAL TERMS

These are used to describe parts of the body.

The principal regions of human body are: head, neck, trunk, upper limbs, and lower limbs. These regions are composed of many parts which have specific anatomical terms.

BODY PLANES AND SECTIONS

The body regions or individual organs can be viewed in section.

Basically there are three sectional planes, indicated in the Figure 2-4 and 2-5.

1. Sagittal Plane

It is a vertical plane, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body that extends from front to back and divides the body into right and left sides. 

• Midsagittal or median plane

when a sagittal plane passes through the midline of the body and divides the body into equal right and left halves, is called midsagittal plane or median plane.

• Parasagittal plane

2. Frontal or coronal plane

It is a vertical plane, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body and perpendicular to the sagittal plane that extends from side to side and divides the body into anterior and posterior portions.

3. Transverse or horizontal plane (cross sectional plane) 

■ Cross sections

Sections made along transverse plane are often called cross sections.

TERMS USED IN OSTEOLOGY (BONY LANDMARKS)

Markings on bones have specific terms as follows:

Elevations

• Line, ridge or crest - are linear elevations.

• Tubercle, tuberosity, trochanter or malleolus are rounded elevations.

• Spine or styloid process - sharp elevations.

Depressions

• Pit or fovea- Small depression.

• Fossa-Large depression 

• Groove or sulcus - Elongated depression

• Facets - Small, smooth, flat areas.

TERMS OF MOVEMENTS

Movements take place at joints.

• Flexion/Extension

Flexion decreases the angle between body parts. In most cases flexion is the anterior movement, but in the knee joint it takes in posterior direction. 

Extension is straightening of the joint, increasing the angle between body parts.

• Abduction/Adduction

These take place in a coronal plane. 

• Rotation: medial and lateral

• Pronation / Supination

Pronation is the medial rotation of the forearm so that the palm of the hand faces posteriorly. 

Supination is the lateral rotation of the forearm from the pronated position, so that palm faces anteriorly.

• Inversion / Eversion

• Elevation/Depression

Elevation lifts or moves a part superiorly. 

Depression lowers or moves a part inferiorly.

• Protraction / Retraction

Protraction is to move the mandible (jaw) anteriorly. 

Retraction is to move mandible (jaw) posteriorly.

CHAPTER SUMMARY

Body Positions

• In the anatomical position, the body stands erect, facing forward, the arms are at the sides with palms forward, and the feet together with the toes directed forward. 

Directional Terms 

• Directional terms include: superior / inferior, anterior / posterior, ventral / dorsal, medial / lateral, proximal/distal, superficial / deep, internal/external, ipsilateral / contralateral.

Regional Terms

• The principal regions are: head, neck, trunk, upper limbs, and lower limbs.

• Within the regions, specific body parts have common names and are specified by corresponding anatomical terms.

Body planes and Sections

Terms used in osteology

• Markings on bones have specific terms. The elevations and depressions have different names in different bones.

Terms for movements

• Movements take place at joints. Most movements occur in pairs; such as flexion / extension, abduction / adduction, pronation / supination, inversion / eversion, elevation / depression, protraction/retraction.