Terminology

Jose Roilo D. Mula, PTRP

Anatomical Position
Standing
Feet together
Arms to the side
Head, eyes, and palms
facing forward
In a normal relaxed
position of the body, the
thumb points anteriorly.
In this position the thumb
is a lateral structure.

Anatomical Planes
Sagittal plane
Divides the body into
right and left sides.

Frontal plane
Divides the body into
front and back parts.

Transverse plane
Divides the body into
upper and lower parts.

Anatomical Axes
X axis/Medial-Lateral axis
Perpendicular to the sagittal plane
Flexion and extension moves around this axis

Y axis
Vertical axis/cephalo-caudal direction
Rotation moves around this axis

Z axis/Anterior-Posterior axis
Is right angle to then frontal plane
Lies along the sagittal plane
Abduction and adduction moves around this axis

Terms of Relation or Position

inferior (caudal)
before another structure pertaining to the tail
lower portion of the body
closer to the feet
superior (cephalic)
above another structure
pertaining to the head
closer to the head
reference point -- horizontal plane

Terms of Relation or
Position
anterior (ventral)
front surface of the body
closer to the anterior surface of the body
posterior (dorsal)
back surface of the body
closer to the posterior surface of the body
reference point -- frontal or coronal
plane

Terms of Relation or
Position
lateral
pertaining to the side
lying further away from the midline
medial
pertaining to the middle/medial plane of
the body
lying closer to the midline
reference point -- sagittal plane

Terms of Relation or
Position
distal
far from the point of attachment to the trunk
far from the beginning of a structure
further away from the origin of a structure
proximal
near the point of attachment to the trunk
near the beginning of a structure
closer to the origin of a structure
reference point -- the origin of a structure

Terms of Relation or
Position
deep
away from the
surface
superficial
On the surface
reference point -surface of body
or organ

Median
reference point -along the
midsagittal or
median plane
Intermediate
between two other
structures

Terms of Relation or
Position
External
outside
Internal
Inside
refers to a hollow
structure

prone
lying on the belly
face down, palms
down
supine
lying on the back
face up, palms up

Terms of Movement
Extension
To straighten out a
joint
Increasing angle
with frontal plane
Flexion
To bend a joint
Decreasing angle
with frontal plane

Abduction
To move away from
the middle of the
body / sagittal
plane
Adduction
To move toward
the middle of the
body / sagittal
plane

Terms of Movement
Protraction
Moving forward
along a surface
Retraction
Moving backward
along a surface
Elevation
Raising a structure
Depression
Lowering a structure

medial/internal rotation
movement around an
axis of a bone
oriented to the anterior
surface of the body
lateral/external
rotation
movement around an
axis of a bone
oriented to the posterior
surface of the body

Terms of Movement
Pronate
Turn the palms up
or the feet inward.
IR of forearm
Supinate
Turn the palms
down or the feet
outward.
ER of forearm

Radial deviation
Abduction of wrist
Towards radius
Ulnar deviation
Adduction of wrist
Towards ulna

Terms of Movement
Plantarflexion
Movement of sole
of foot away from
tibia
Dorsiflexion
Movement of
dorsum of foot
towards the tibia

circumduction
combined movements
of flexion,extension,
abduction, adduction,
medial & lateral
rotation
circumscribe a cone
opposition
bringing tips of fingers
and thumb together

Positions

Quadrants of the Abdomen

Quadrants of the Abdomen

Quadrants

RUQ

RLQ
LUQ

LLQ
Midline

Organs

Quadrants of the Abdomen

Quadrants

RUQ

Organs

Contains majority of liver, gallbladder, small

portion of pancreas, right kidney, small
intestines, and colon

RLQ

Contains small intestines and colon, right ovary

and fallopian tube, appendix, and right ureter

LUQ

Contains small portion of liver, spleen, stomach,

majority of pancreas, left kidney, small
intestines, and colon

LLQ

Contains small intestines and colon, left ovary

and fallopian tube, and left ureter

Midline

Regions of the Abdomen

Regions of the Abdomen

Regions of the Abdomen

Left lobe of
Liver
Body of the
Stomach
Body of the
Pancreas
Transverse
colon

Regions of the Abdomen

Small
Intestine
Part of
transverse
colon

Regions of the Abdomen

Bladder
Uterus

Regions of the Abdomen

Fundus of
Stomach
Tail of Pancreas
and Spleen
Left Colic
Flexure

Regions of the Abdomen

Right lobe of
Liver
Gall bladder
2nd part of
duodenum
Head of Pancreas
Right colic
flexure

Regions of the Abdomen

Descending
Colon

Regions of the Abdomen

Ascending
Colon

Regions of the Abdomen

Sigmoid
Colon

Regions of the Abdomen

Cecum
Appendix

Anatomic Division of the Back

Seven
Twelve

Five
One (Five)
One (Four)