Anatomical Language

Page 1 sur 7

Study Guide

Previous Chapter

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

Next Chapter

Anatomical Language Integumentary System Skeletal Tissue Appendicular Skeleton Axial Skeleton Joints Muscular System: Structure Muscular System: Axial Muscles Muscular System: Appendicular Muscles Nervous System: Tissue Nervous System: Central Nervous System Nervous System: Peripheral Nervous System Nervous System: Special Senses Cardiovascular System: Blood Cardiovascular System: Heart Cardiovascular System: Circulation Lymphatic System Respiratory System Urinary System Digestive System Male Reproductive System Female Reproductive System Endocrine System

ANATOMICAL LANGUAGE
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES When you have completed this chapter you should be able to: Describe the standard anatomical position. Know the difference between the anatomical planes. Describe the location of a structure using direction terms. Identify the quadrants and regions of the body.

Anatomical position
In order to avoid confusion when describing the body, it is always described in the anatomical position. In the anatomical position, a person stands erect, legs together and arms by their sides, with their head, eyes, toes and palms of the hands facing forward. It is important to remember that the palms face forward as their relaxed position is generally facing inwards. The anatomical position allows us to describe the position of structures in relation to their surroundings, e.g. the heart lies above the diaphragm. The anatomical position avoids confusion as to whether the body is lying down or standing up. You should also bear in mind that when looking at a person in the anatomical position, their right side will be on your left. The structures will always be described as they are to the subject rather than as they appear to you.

Anatomical planes and directions

Planes There are three major anatomical planes; axial, coronal, and sagittal. Anatomical Position Axial (also know as the transverse plane) Coronal (also known as the frontal plane) Sagittal Description This plane cuts the body horizontally, into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions. This plane cuts the body vertically, into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions. This plane cuts the body vertically, into left and right portions.

If the body is cut in the sagittal plane, exactly along the middle of the body, it is known as the median sagittal line/plane.

ANATOMICAL PLANES

file://C:\Users\Mugurel\AppData\Local\Temp\~hh747B.htm

05.12.2009

Anatomical Language

Page 2 sur 7

Click here to view the thorax in the axial, coronal and sagittal planes. Direction Direction is used, when the body is in the anatomical position to explain the location of a structure relative to the structures surrounding it. Direction Anterior (or ventral) Posterior (or dorsal) Superior (or cranial) Inferior (or caudal) Lateral Medial Deep Superficial Proximal Description Towards the front of the body (in front of). Towards the back of the body (behind). Above (on top of). Below (underneath). Away from the mid line of the body (towards the sides). Towards the mid line of the body (towards the middle). Away from the body surface (towards the inner body). Towards the external surface of the body. Nearer to the trunk of the body. Example The sternum lies anterior to the heart. The heart lies posterior the sternum. The heart lies superior to the diaphragm. The diaphragm lies inferior to the heart. The lungs lie lateral to the heart. The heart lies medial to the lungs. The heart is deep to the sternum. The sternum is superficial to the heart. The shoulder is proximal to the elbow.

file://C:\Users\Mugurel\AppData\Local\Temp\~hh747B.htm

05.12.2009

Anatomical Language

Page 3 sur 7

Distal Furthest from the trunk of the body. The elbow is distal to the shoulder. SELF-TEST Complete the following questions before you go onto the next section: Using directional terms explain where the foot is located with reference to the surrounding structures. Is the stomach deep or superficial to the skin? Which plane cuts the body into anterior and posterior parts?

Regions
The body is split up into two main areas, the axial and appendicular regions. The axial region refers to the head, vertebral column and trunk, and the appendicular region refers to the pelvic girdles and the upper and lower limbs. Each area is further divided into descriptive regions. Axial regions Cephalic Frontal Facial Occipital Orbital Buccal Thoracic Sternal Umbilical Inguinal Pubic Genital Perineal Dorsum Vertebral Cervical Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Appendicular regions Upper limb Pectoral Clavicular Acromial Scapular Interscapular Axillary Brachial Antebrachial Cubital Carpal Digits Pollicis Palmar Lower Limb Gluteal Coxal Femoral Description (pertaining to) Head Forehead Face Back of the head Eye cavity Cheek Chest Sternum Navel (belly button) Groin Mons pubis (pubic bone) Reproductive organs Perineum Back Spinal column Neck Middle of the back Lower back Sacrum Description (pertaining to) Chest Clavicles Acromion of the shoulder Scapula Between the two scapulae Armpit Arm Forearm Elbow Wrist Fingers Thumb Palm of the hand Buttocks Hip Thigh

file://C:\Users\Mugurel\AppData\Local\Temp\~hh747B.htm

05.12.2009

Anatomical Language

Page 4 sur 7

Patellar Popliteal Crural Tarsal Calcaneal Pedal Plantar

Front of the knee Back of the knee Leg Ankle Heel Foot Sole of the foot

REGIONS OF THE BODY

SELF-TEST Complete the following questions before you go onto the next section: Name 8 regions used to describe the axial body. List the regions of the upper limb and describe what they pertain to. List the regions of the lower limb and describe what they pertain to.

Body cavities
There are two main cavities within the body, the ventral and the dorsal cavities. The dorsal body cavity is at the back of the body and is the smaller of the two cavities. It can be further divided into the upper and lower portions, the cranial cavity and the vertebral canal respectively. The ventral body cavity is at the front of the body and is the larger of the two cavities. It can be further divided into three cavities, the thoracic cavity, abdominal cavity and pelvic cavity. The thoracic and abdominal cavities are divided by the diaphragm and the abdominal and pelvic cavities are continuous with each other. Name Description Boundaries Contain

file://C:\Users\Mugurel\AppData\Local\Temp\~hh747B.htm

05.12.2009

Anatomical Language

Page 5 sur 7

Dorsal cavity Cranial cavity Vertebral canal Ventral cavity Thoracic cavity

Small cavity at the back of the body. Upper portion. Lower portion. Large cavity at the front of the body. Large cavity above the diaphragm. Heart, lungs, trachea, oesophagus, large blood vessels and nerves. Gastrointestinal tract, spleen, kidneys and adrenal glands. Urinary bladder, genitals, sigmoid colon and rectum. Bounded by the skull. Bounded by the vertebral column, intervertebral discs and surrounding ligaments. Brain and meninges. Spinal cord, spinal nerve roots.

It is bound laterally by the ribs (covered by costal pleura) and the diaphragm inferiorly (covered by diaphragmatic pleura) It is bound superiorly by the diaphragm, laterally Abdominal Large cavity below by the body wall, and inferiorly by the pelvic cavity the diaphragm. cavity. It is bounded superiorly by the abdominal cavity, Small cavity below Pelvic cavity posteriorly by the sacrum, and laterally by the the brim of the pelvis. pelvis SELF-TEST Complete the following questions before you go onto the next section: How are the dorsal and ventral cavities subdivided? Describe the boundaries of the abdominal cavity. List the contents of the thoracic cavity.

Quadrants and regions of the abdomen

The abdomen can be divided by two lines into 4 quadrants or by 4 lines into 9 regions. The two lines that divide the abdomen into quadrants form a cross, the centre of which is positioned over the umbilicus (belly button). These quadrants are often used to indicate the location of pain. Quadrant Name Right upper quadrant Left upper quadrant Right lower quadrant Left lower quadrant Contains Liver, gallbladder, right kidney, duodenum, a portion of the ascending and transverse colons and the small intestine. Stomach, spleen, left kidney, pancreas, a portion of the descending and transverse colons and the small intestine. Appendix, caecum, a potion of the ascending colon and the small intestine. A portion of the descending and transverse colons and the small intestine.

QUADRANTS OF THE ABDOMEN

file://C:\Users\Mugurel\AppData\Local\Temp\~hh747B.htm

05.12.2009

Anatomical Language

Page 6 sur 7

There are two vertical lines and two horizontal lines that divide the abdomen into a grid. The vertical lines also known as lateral lines are positioned using the middle of each clavicle as a reference. The upper horizontal line (also known as the transpyloric or subcostal line) is positioned at the level of the pylorus of the stomach close to the subcostal margin of the ribs. The lower horizontal line (also known as transtubercular line) is positioned at the level of the anterior superior iliac spines of the coxal (hip) bone. Region Name Right hypochondriac region Left hypochondriac region Epigastric region Right lateral region Left lateral region Umbilical region Right inguinal region Hypogastric (pubic) region Left inguinal region

REGIONS OF THE ABDOMEN

file://C:\Users\Mugurel\AppData\Local\Temp\~hh747B.htm

05.12.2009

Anatomical Language

Page 7 sur 7

SELF-TEST Complete the following questions before you go onto the next section: List the four quadrants of the abdomen. List the nine regions of the abdominal cavity. Describe where the transpyloric line is positioned. Test your understanding of this chapter with the Interactive Quizzes and MCQs

file://C:\Users\Mugurel\AppData\Local\Temp\~hh747B.htm

05.12.2009