Anatomical Terminology: Planes and Directions

Terminology

• Specimens are best examined when placed in the anatomical position.
• Anatomical position means standing erect, face forward, arms at the sides with palms to the front

Planes of reference

• Planes of reference are important for identification.
• The sagittal plane divides the body into left and right.
• The coronal plane divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back).
• The horizontal plane divides the body into superior and inferior sections.
• Sagittal, midsagittal, parasagittal, coronal/frontal, transverse/horizontal are all planes of reference.

Directional Terms

• Cranial means towards the head.
• Caudal means towards the bottom.
• Palmar refers to the hand.
• Plantar refers to the foot.
• Proximal is closer to the point of attachment or the trunk of the body.
• Distal is away from the attachment point.

General Terms

• Anterior is pertaining to, or located toward, the front.
• Posterior is pertaining to, or located toward the back.
• Superior is upper or above.
• Inferior is lower or below.
• Medial means toward the median plane.
• Lateral means away from the median plane.
• Superficial means situated near the surface.
• Deep means situated deep beneath the surface.
• Proximal is close to, or toward, the trunk, or toward the point of origin.
• Distal means away from the trunk (toward the end of the limb), or away from the point of origin
• Anatomical terms adopted from zoology are anterior, posterior, superior and inferior.

Body Regions

• The axial part includes the head, neck, back, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and perineum.
• The upper limb includes the shoulder, arm, forearm, and hand.
• The lower limb includes the gluteal region, thigh, leg, and foot.

Common Landmarks

• Common landmarks include thorax, diaphragm, costal margin, abdomen, iliac crest, lower limb, anterior superior iliac spine, inguinal ligament, and pubic tubercle
• The abdomen can be divided into quadrants: RUQ (Right Upper Quadrant), LUQ (Left Upper Quadrant), RLQ (Right Lower Quadrant), and LLQ (Left Lower Quadrant).
• The abdomen can also be divided into regions: epigastric, right hypochondrium, left hypochondrium, umbilical, right lumbar, left lumbar, pubic, right iliac, left iliac and hypogastrium.

Regions of the Thorax

• Regions of the thorax include presternal, infraclavicular fossa, clavipectoral triangle, deltoid, axillary, pectoral, inframammary, lateral pectoral & hypochondriac

Palpable Structures of the Back

• Palpable structures of the back includes: Vertebra prominens (C7), Scapular spine, Medial border, scapula, Inferior angle, scapula, Iliac crest, Posterior superior iliac spine, Acromion, Greater tubercle, humerus, 6th through 12th ribs, Anterior superior iliac spine, Sacrum, Greater trochanter, femur & Ischial tuberosity

Anatomy Resources

• Thieme
• Anatomedia
• Anatomy TV

Body Cavities:

• The dorsal cavity includes the cranial and spinal cavities.
• The ventral cavity includes the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities.
• The thoracic cavity contains the pleural, pericardial, and mediastinum.