anatomical positions

ANATOMY 2014

Anatomical Positions

Hierarchy of Structural Organization

Chemical CellularTissueOrganOrgan SystemOrganism

Gross Anatomy: IntroductionAnatomical position Directional termsRegional termsBody planes and sectionsBody cavities and membranesAbdominopelvic regions and

quadrants

Anatomical PositionAnatomical

position Body erect with

feet together Arms at side with

palms forwardThe anatomical

position is the common visual reference point

Anatomical PositionDirectional terms

used in anatomy reference deviations from the anatomical position (e.g. abduction of arm)

Additionally, the terms right and left always refer to the person, cadaver, or skeleton being viewed and are not the viewers right and left.

Directional and Regional Terms

Regional terms are the names of specific body areas. The areas labeled here pertain to the fundamental divisions of the body.

Directional TermsSuperior Toward the head end or

upper part of a structure or the body

Inferior Away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or the body

Refer to table 1.1 on page 8

Directional TermsAnterior Toward or at the front of

the body (ventral)

PosteriorToward the back of the body; behind (dorsal)

Directional TermsMedial Toward or at the

midline of the bodyLateral Away from the midline

of the bodyIntermediate Between a more medial

and a more lateral structure

Directional TermsProximal Closer to the origin of the

body part, or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

Distal Farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

Directional TermsSuperficial Toward or at the body

surfaceDeep away from the body

surface; more internal

Body Planes and SectionsThe most

frequently used body planes are sagittal, frontal and transverse which are at right angles to each other

A section bears the name of the plane along which it is cut

Body Planes and SectionsIn the study of

anatomy, the body is often sectioned (cut) along a flat surface called a plane

Planes section the body through portions of the anatomical position

Body Planes and SectionsLooking at the body

or a familiar object can look odd when viewed in section

However, looking at structures in section often can add insight into spatial relations and understanding of internal positioning

Body Planes and SectionsIn this transverse

view a (MRI) system presents the internal structures of the torso

This view is useful in illustrating how organs are distributed within the cavity from anterior/lateral or medial lateral perspective

Body Planes and SectionsIn this midsagitall

view a (MRI) system presents the internal structures of the abdominopelvic cavity

This view is useful in visualizing structures from a superior / inferior perspective

Body Cavities

Body cavities

Dorsal body cavity is divided into a cranial cavity which encases the brain, and the vertebral cavity which encases the spinal cord

Body cavities

The ventral body cavity houses the visceral organs

The ventral body cavity is divided into the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities

Thoracic Cavity

The thoracic cavity is surrounded by the ribs and muscles of the chest

It is further divided into plueral

cavities mediastinum pericardial

Abdominopelvic CavityAbdominopelvic

cavity lies below the diaphragm

It is further divided into . . Abdominal cavity

Stomach, intestines, spleen, liver

Pelvic cavity Bladder, rectum,

and some reproductive organs

Other Cavities

Abdominal Regions & QuadrantsAnatomists often

divide the body cavity into smaller regions for study

Two transverse and two parasagittal planes divide the abdomen into nine regions

Abdominal Regions & QuadrantsYour text will

reference structures found within these regions

Abdominal Regions & QuadrantsA more

generalized scheme for locating abdominal structures is based on quadrants