Anatomical position and body planes

LANGUAGE OF ANATOMY

 Various positions, planes, terms in relation to various regions and movement are described.

Positions:

Anatomical position- 

• individual are standing upright 
• with the upper limb hanging by the side 
• palm of the hand directed forward 
• with head, eyes and toes directed forward 
• and the lower limb are parallel with the toes pointing forward.

 Supine position-

      lying down (recumbent) position with the face directed upward 

Prone position-

     lying down position with the face directed downward.

Lithotomy  position-

• Lying supine with the hips at the edge of the table
• The hips and knee fully flexed 
• and the feet strapped in position 

TERMS USED IN RELATION TO TRUNK , NECK , AND FACE

1. Anterior- In the front of the trunk ,  neck and face.

2. Posterior- Is the back of the trunk , neck and face.

3. Medial- nearest to the median plane of the body.

4. lateral-  Farther from the median plane.

5. Proximal- Close to head end of the body.

6. Distal- Close to the lower end of the body.

7. Superficial- Toward the surface of the body.

8. Deep- Away from the surface of the body.

9. Ipsilateral- On the same side of the body.

10. Contralatereal- On the opposite side of the body.

ANATOMICAL POSITIONS

1. Medial plane- Divides the body into left and right halves.

2. Sagittal plane- Any plane parallel to median plane.

3. Coronal plane- A vertical plane which is at right angle to median plane.

4. Transverse plane- A plane at right angle to a vertical plane.

5. Horizontal plane- A plane parallel to the ground.

6. oblique plane- Any plane other than of aforementioned planes.