Anatomy and Physiology I
Subtopic:
Human Body Organization
Learning Objectives
- Describe the standard anatomical position used as a reference in medical observation and documentation.
- Differentiate between directional terms, including superior/inferior, anterior/posterior, medial/lateral, proximal/distal, superficial/deep, and peripheral.
- Identify body regions (axial and appendicular) and the anatomical components included in each.
- Understand the division of the abdominal area into regions and quadrants for clinical reference.
- Explain anatomical planes—sagittal, mid-sagittal, para-sagittal, frontal, transverse, and oblique—and how they separate the body.
- Apply anatomical terminology in clinical assessments and communication.
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.
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