MEDS1: Anatomical Positions and Planes of the body
Recumbent
"Lying down" •Transverse plane of the body is perpendicular to the floor
Prone
Anterior recumbent position
Caudal
Caudal or inferior Towards the feet
Cephalad/Cranial
Cephalic, cranial or superior Towards the head
Flexion
Decreases the angle of a joint
Lateral
Further from (away from) the median plane of the body/organ/tissue
Distal
Further from the centre of the body Or further from the point of origin/attachment
Extension
Increases the angle of a joint
Lateral Decubitus (recumbent)
Left lateral decubitus
Medial
Nearer to (towards) the median plane of the body/organ/tissue
Proximal
Nearer to the centre of the body Or nearer to the point of origin/attachment
Oblique
Patient is not lying flat or at 90 degrees to bed/table surface Patient typically lies at a 45 degree angle Image is left posterior oblique
Supine
Posterior recumbent position
Pronate
Pronation, internally rotate so dorsal surface (back) of the hand is on top
Supinate
Supination, externally rotate so palmer surface (palm) of the hand is on top
Recumbent: patient can either be
Supine Prone Lateral Decubitus
Inferior
Towards the feet Situated below (closer to the feet)
Superior
Towards the head Situated above (closer to the head)
Inversion
Turn inward or medially
Eversion
Turn outward or laterally
Transverse plane
•Also termed "axial" •Divides the body into top and bottom halves •It is a horizontal plane at right angles to the sagittal & coronal planes
Coronal plane
•Divides the front and back halves of the entire body •The coronal plane divides the body into anterior and posterior sections •It is a vertical plane at right angles to the sagittal & axial planes
Sagittal Plane
•Divides the left and right sides of the entire body •The sagittal plane divides the body into right and left portions •It is a vertical plane at right angles to the coronal & axial planes
Posterior anatomical position
•Posterior is everything you can't see anteriorly •The opposite of anterior
3 orthogonal planes
•Sagittal (pink) •Transverse / Axial (yellow) •Coronal (turquoise)
Anterior anatomical position
•Standing erect •Head facing forward •Arms at side of body •Palms facing forward •Legs together •Toes facing forward
