Anatomy and Physiology I
Subtopic:
Human Body Organization
Anatomical Positions
Anatomical positions are universally accepted as the starting points for positional references to the body.In anatomical positions, the subject(body of the patient or client to be observed) is standing erect and facing the observer (the medical examiner), the feet are together, and the arms are hanging at the sides with the palms facing forward
Relative Directional Terms
Standard terms of reference are used when describing the location of a certain body part. The location of one body part is always described in relation to another body part of the same human body.
- Superior (cranial): Toward the head. Example: The leg is superior to the foot.
- Inferior (caudal): Toward the feet. Example: The foot is inferior to the leg.
- Anterior (ventral): Toward the front part of the body. Example: The nose is anterior to the ears.
- Posterior (dorsal): Toward the back of the body. Example: The ears are posterior to the nose.
- Medial: Toward the midline of the body. Example: The nose is medial to the eyes.
- Lateral: Away from the midline of the body. Example: The eyes are lateral to the nose.
- Proximal: Toward (nearer) the trunk of the body or the attached end of a limb. Example: The shoulder is proximal to the wrist.
- Distal: Away (further) from the trunk of the body or the attached end of a limb. Example: The wrist is distal to the forearm.
- Superficial: Nearer to the surface of the body. Example: The ribs are superficial to the heart.
- Deep: Further from the surface of the body. Example: The heart is deeper to the ribs.
- Peripheral: Away from the central axis of the body. Example: Peripheral nerves radiate away from the brain and spinal cord.
Body Parts Regions
Axial: This part of the body is near the central axis and includes the head, neck, thorax (chest), abdomen, and pelvis.
Appendicular: This part of the body is away from the central axis and includes the upper and lower extremities.
The abdomen is further divided into nine regions or more commonly into four quadrants for easier identification.→
Body planes and sections
Body planes are imaginary lines that divide the body into sections, aiding in the identification of specific areas. These planes include:
Sagittal Plane: Divides the body into right and left halves.
- Mid-Sagittal Plane: Splits the body into two equal left and right halves.
- Para-Sagittal Plane: Divides the body into two unequal left and right sections.
Frontal Plane: Separates the body into asymmetrical anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections.
Transverse Plane: Divides the body into upper and lower sections.
Oblique Plane: Cuts the body obliquely into upper and lower sections.
What is the standard anatomical position?
- a) Lying down with arms at the sides
- b) Standing erect, facing the observer, feet together, and arms at the sides with palms facing forward
- c) Sitting with legs crossed
- d) Standing with arms crossed
- Answer: b) Standing erect, facing the observer, feet together, and arms at the sides with palms facing forward
- Rationale: The standard anatomical position is universally accepted as the starting point for positional references to the body.
True or False: The term "superior" refers to a position toward the feet.
- Answer: False
- Rationale: The term "superior" refers to a position toward the head, not the feet.
Which of the following best describes the term "inferior"?
- a) Toward the head
- b) Toward the feet
- c) Toward the front of the body
- d) Toward the back of the body
- Answer: b) Toward the feet
- Rationale: The term "inferior" refers to a position toward the feet.
True or False: The term "anterior" refers to a position toward the back of the body.
- Answer: False
- Rationale: The term "anterior" refers to a position toward the front of the body.
Which of the following best describes the term "posterior"?
- a) Toward the head
- b) Toward the feet
- c) Toward the front of the body
- d) Toward the back of the body
- Answer: d) Toward the back of the body
- Rationale: The term "posterior" refers to a position toward the back of the body.
True or False: The term "medial" refers to a position away from the midline of the body.
- Answer: False
- Rationale: The term "medial" refers to a position toward the midline of the body.
Which of the following best describes the term "lateral"?
- a) Toward the midline of the body
- b) Away from the midline of the body
- c) Toward the head
- d) Toward the feet
- Answer: b) Away from the midline of the body
- Rationale: The term "lateral" refers to a position away from the midline of the body.
True or False: The term "proximal" refers to a position away from the trunk of the body or the attached end of a limb.
- Answer: False
- Rationale: The term "proximal" refers to a position toward the trunk of the body or the attached end of a limb.
Which of the following best describes the term "distal"?
- a) Toward the trunk of the body or the attached end of a limb
- b) Away from the trunk of the body or the attached end of a limb
- c) Toward the head
- d) Toward the feet
- Answer: b) Away from the trunk of the body or the attached end of a limb
- Rationale: The term "distal" refers to a position away from the trunk of the body or the attached end of a limb.
True or False: The term "superficial" refers to a position further from the surface of the body.
- Answer: False
- Rationale: The term "superficial" refers to a position nearer to the surface of the body.
Which of the following best describes the term "deep"?
- a) Nearer to the surface of the body
- b) Further from the surface of the body
- c) Toward the head
- d) Toward the feet
- Answer: b) Further from the surface of the body
- Rationale: The term "deep" refers to a position further from the surface of the body.
True or False: The term "peripheral" refers to a position away from the central axis of the body.
- Answer: True
- Rationale: The term "peripheral" refers to a position away from the central axis of the body.
Which of the following body parts is included in the axial region?
- a) Arm
- b) Leg
- c) Head
- d) Hand
- Answer: c) Head
- Rationale: The axial region includes body parts near the central axis, such as the head, neck, thorax, abdomen, and pelvis.
True or False: The appendicular region includes the upper and lower extremities.
- Answer: True
- Rationale: The appendicular region includes body parts away from the central axis, such as the upper and lower extremities.
What does the sagittal plane divide the body into?
- a) Anterior and posterior sections
- b) Upper and lower sections
- c) Right and left halves
- d) Oblique sections
- Answer: c) Right and left halves
- Rationale: The sagittal plane divides the body into right and left halves.
True or False: The mid-sagittal plane splits the body into two unequal left and right sections.
- Answer: False
- Rationale: The mid-sagittal plane splits the body into two equal left and right halves.
Which of the following best describes the para-sagittal plane?
- a) Divides the body into right and left halves
- b) Splits the body into two equal left and right halves
- c) Divides the body into two unequal left and right sections
- d) Separates the body into anterior and posterior sections
- Answer: c) Divides the body into two unequal left and right sections
- Rationale: The para-sagittal plane divides the body into two unequal left and right sections.
True or False: The frontal plane separates the body into asymmetrical anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections.
- Answer: True
- Rationale: The frontal plane separates the body into asymmetrical anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections.
What does the transverse plane divide the body into?
- a) Anterior and posterior sections
- b) Upper and lower sections
- c) Right and left halves
- d) Oblique sections
- Answer: b) Upper and lower sections
- Rationale: The transverse plane divides the body into upper and lower sections.
True or False: The oblique plane cuts the body obliquely into upper and lower sections.
- Answer: True
- Rationale