1

General Orientation of the Body

Objectives of the lesson:

∙ Definition of terms
∙ Planes and Sections
∙ Anatomic Directions
∙ Terms related to Movement
∙ Regions of the body
∙ Body Cavities
∙ Summary of the Body Systems

Definition of terms:

∙ Anatomy
o Study of the structure and shape of the body and its parts and its relationships to one another o
In Greek: tomy = “cut”; ana = “apart”
o Divided into 2 types:
1. Gross Anatomy
∙ Studying large, easily observable structures
2. Microscopic Anatomy
∙ Also known as Histology
∙ The study of body structures that are too small to be seen with the naked eye
∙ Using a microscope

∙ Physiology
o Study of how the body and its parts function
o Physio = “nature”; ology = “the study of”
o Eg: Homeostasis – to maintain relatively stable internal conditions despite continuously
changing outside environment

Terms related to Position:

∙ Anatomical Position
o A person is standing erect and facing forward, the upper limbs are by the sides, the palms of the
hands are directed forward, the lower limbs are together, the soles of the feet are on the ground
and the toes are pointing forward

Human Anatomy and Physiology with Pathophysiology

Prepared by Shanna Escalona, MD
2
 ∙ Planes
o Imaginary line that divides the body
∙ Sections
o Type of cut formed by planes

∙ Median plane
o Vertical plane passing through the center of the body
o Divides the body into equal left and right sides

∙ Sagittal plane
o Parallel to the median plane
o Divides the body into unequal right and left portions
o The section formed by this plane known as the sagittal section

∙ Coronal (frontal) plane

o Vertical plane situated at a right angle to the median plane
o Divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions
o The section formed by this plane known as the frontal section

∙ Horizontal plane
o Lies at right angles to both the median
o Divides the body into upper and lower parts

∙ Transverse plane
o Lies perpendicular to the long axis of a given structure
o Divides the structure in a cross-sectional orientation

Human Anatomy and Physiology with Pathophysiology

Prepared by Shanna Escalona, MD
3

Anatomic Directions:
∙ Anterior (ventral)
o Indicate the front of the body
∙ Posterior (dorsal)
 o Indicate the back of the body
E.g.: the nose is on the anterior side of the head, whereas the buttocks are on the posterior side of the body

∙ Palmar
o Anterior surface of the hand
o This is the “palm” side of the hand
∙ Dorsal
o Posterior surface of the hand
∙ Plantar
o Refers to sole of the foot
∙ Dorsal
o Indicates the upper (top) surface

∙ Medial
o A structure situated nearer to the median plane of the body than another
∙ Lateral
o A structure that lies farther away from the median plane than another
E.g.: in the head, the eyes are lateral to the nose, and the nose is medial to the eyes

∙ Superior (cranial; cephalic)

o Describe structures located on the upper end of the body compared to another structure ∙
Inferior (caudal)
o Describe structures located on the lower end of the body in compared to another structure
E.g.: the head is at the superior end of the body, whereas the feet are at the inferior end of the body

∙ Proximal
o Structure is closer to the core, root or attached end of a reference point
∙ Distal
o Structure is further away from the core, root or attached end of a reference point
E.g.: in the upper limb, the shoulder is proximal to the elbow, and the hand is distal to the
elbow

∙ Superificial
o Closer to the surface of the body or a given structure
∙ Deep
o Farther away from the surface
E.g.: the skin is superficial to the ribs, but he heart is deep to the ribs

∙ Internal
o Inside the structure
∙ External
o Outside the structure
E.g.: the thoracic cavity is an internal space in the trunk of the body, whereas the skin is the external layer of
the trunk

∙ Ipsilateral

Human Anatomy and Physiology with

Pathophysiology Prepared by Shanna Escalona, MD
4

o Same side as the reference point

∙ Contralateral
o Opposite side from the reference point
E.g.: the right eye is ipsilateral to the right ear; however, the right eye is contralateral to the left ear
 ∙ Supine
o Lying on one’s back
∙ Prone
o Laying face downward

∙ Afferent
o Flow toward the reference point
∙ Efferent
o Flow away from the reference point
E.g.: venous blood flow is afferent to the heart, and arterial blood flow is efferent
to the heart

Dorsal

Palmar Dorsal

Plantar

Terms in relation to Movement:

∙ Flexion
o The movement in which a joint angle is decreased (closed) during motion occurring in a sagittal
plane
∙ Extension
o The opposite movement in which the joint angle is increased (opened; straightened) in a sagittal
plane

Human Anatomy and Physiology with

Pathophysiology Prepared by Shanna Escalona, MD
5
 ∙ Dorsiflexion
o Equivalent to extension
o Refers to lifting the top of the foot superiorly, toward the shin
∙ Plantar flexion
o Equivalent to flexion
o Refers to moving the sole of the foot inferiorly, as in standing on the toes

∙ Abduction
o Movement away from the midline of the body in the coronal plane o In the
fingers and toes, abduction is applied to the spreading apart of the digits ∙ Adduction
o Movement toward the midline of the body in the coronal plane
o Drawing together

Human Anatomy and Physiology with

Pathophysiology Prepared by Shanna Escalona, MD
6
 ∙ Inversion
o Turning the sole of the foot so that the sole faces in a medial direction, toward midline ∙
Eversion
o Turning the sole of the foot so that the sole faces in a lateral direction

∙ Rotation
o Movement of a part of the body around its long axis, with little to no movement through space ∙
Medial (internal) rotation
o Movement that results in the anterior surface of the part facing medially
∙ Lateral (external) rotation
o Movement that results in the anterior surface of the part facing laterally

Human Anatomy and Physiology with

Pathophysiology Prepared by Shanna Escalona, MD
7
 ∙ Circumduction
o Complex sequence of movements combining flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, and
rotation
o Most easily envisioned at the shoulder

∙ Pronation
o Turning the forearm medially in such a manner that the palm of the hand faces posteriorly ∙
Supination
o Turning the forearm laterally from the pronated position so that the palm of the hand comes to
face anteriorly
Pronation and supination are composed of both rotation (at the proximal end of the radius) and circumduction
(at the distal end of the radius)

Human Anatomy and Physiology with

Pathophysiology Prepared by Shanna Escalona, MD
8
 ∙ Protraction
o Moving a body part forward
∙ Retraction
o Moving a body part backward
E.g.: forward and backward movement of the jaw at the temporomandibular joints (as when jutting the chin
forward) and the forward/backward motion of the scapula across the rib cage (as when reaching forward)

Regional Terms:
Anterior Posterior

CEPHALIC: CEPHALIC:
∙ Frontal = forehead ∙ Occipital
∙ Orbital = eyes
∙ Nasal = nose
∙ Buccal = cheeck
∙ Mental = chin
∙ Orbital = mouth

CERVICAL CERVICAL

THORACIC:
∙ Sternal = breast bone area
∙ Axillary = area
∙ Pectoral = chest

ABDOMINAL:
∙ Umbilical

UPPER LIMB: UPPER LIMB:

∙ Acromial = point of the shoulder ∙ Acromial = point of the shoulder
∙ Deltoid = curve of shoulder formed by large ∙ Brachial = arm
deltoid muscle ∙ Olecranon = posterior surface of the elbow
∙ Brachial = arm ∙ Antebrachial = forearm
∙ Antecubital = anterior surface of the elbow
∙ Antebrachial = forearm
∙ Carpal = wrist
Human Anatomy and Physiology with Pathophysiology
Prepared by Shanna Escalona, MD
9
MANUS MANUS
∙ Digital = fingers ∙ Digital = fingers

PELVIC:
∙ Inguinal (groin)

PUBIC (genital)

LOWER LIMB: LOWER LIMB:

∙ Coxal = hip ∙ Femoral = thigh
∙ Femoral = thigh ∙ Popliteal = posterior knee area
∙ Patellar = anterior knee area ∙ Sural = calf
∙ Crural = anterior leg; shin ∙ Fibular = lateral part of the leg
∙ Fibular = lateral part of the leg

PEDAL: PEDAL:
∙ Tarsal = ankle ∙ Calcaneal = near the heel
∙ Digital = toes ∙ Plantar = sole of the foot

DORSAL/BACK:
∙ Scapular = shoulder blade region
∙ Vertebral = area of spinal column
∙ Lumbar = between the ribs and hips
∙ Sacral = area between hips at base of spine
∙ Gluteal = buttocks

Body Cavities:
∙ There are 2 sets of internal body cavities:
o Dorsal body cavity
o Ventral body cavity
∙ These cavities provide different degrees of protection to the organs within them

∙ Dorsal body cavity has 2 subdivisions, which are continuous with each other
o Cranial cavity
o Space inside the bony skull
o The brain is well protected because it occupies the cranial cavity
o Spinal cavity
o Extends from the cranial cavity to the end of the spinal cord
o The spinal cord, which is a continuation of the brain, is protected by the bony vertebrae,
which surround the spinal cavity and form the spine

∙ Ventral body cavity

o Larger cavity
o Contains all the structures within the chest and abdomen, i.e. the visceral organs o
Subdivided into:
▪ Superior thoracic cavity
 ∙ Separated from the rest of the ventral cavity by the diaphragm
∙ Organs: lungs, heart, and others
∙ Protected by the rib cage
∙ Mediastinum separates the lungs into right and left cavities; which houses the
heart, trachea, and other visceral organs
▪ Inferior abdominopelvic cavity
∙ Abdominal cavity: stomach, liver, intestines and other organs
Human Anatomy and Physiology with
Pathophysiology Prepared by Shanna Escalona, MD
10

o Most vulnerable when subjected to physical injury because the abdominal

cavity walls are formed only of trunk muscles and are not reinforced by
bones
∙ Pelvic cavity: reproductive organs, bladder and rectum
∙ 4 quadrants:

∙ 9 regions:

o Divided by 4 planes:
▪ 2 parasagittal planes that lie just medial to the nipples
▪ 1 superior transverse plane just superior to the ribs
▪ 1 inferior transverse plane just superior to the hip bones
Human Anatomy and Physiology with
Pathophysiology Prepared by Shanna Escalona, MD