Anatomical PositionsSports Medicine Standard 2

What is Anatomy and Physiology?

Anatomy is the study of structure

Derived from Greek and means “to cut up” or “to cut open”

Physiology is the study of the functions of body structures

Structure and function are very closely related

Anatomic Position

Planes of the Body

Body Planes• Coronal plane – also called frontal plane

A vertical plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts.

• Transverse Plane – also called the cross-sectional or horizontal plane. Cuts perpendicularly along the long axisof the body/organ. The body or organ isseparated into both superior (upper) andinferior (lower) parts.

• Sagittal Plane – also called the median planeExtends through the body or organ verticallyand divides the structure into right and lefthalves.

• Midsagittal – sagittal plane in the middleof the body *only one

• Parasagittal – a plane that is parallel to theMidsagittal plane but either to the left orright of it.

Anatomic Directions

Term Meaning Example

Anterior In front of; toward the front surface.

The stomach is anterior to the spinal cord.

Posterior In back of; toward the back surface.

The heart is posterior to the sternum.

Dorsal At the back side of the human body.

The spinal cord is on the dorsal side of the body.

Ventral At the belly side of the human body.

The umbilicus (naval, belly button) is on the ventral side of the body.

Anatomic Directions

Term Meaning Example

Superior Toward the head or above.

The chest is superior to the pelvis.

Inferior Toward feet not head.

The stomach is inferior to the heart.

Caudal At the rear or tail end.

The abdomen is caudal to the head.

Cranial At the head end. The head is cranial to the trunk.

Anatomic Directions

Term Meaning Example

Medial Toward the midline of the body.

The lungs are medial to the shoulders.

Lateral Away from the midline of the body.

The arms are lateral to the heart.

Deep On the inside, underneath another structure.

Muscles are deep to the skin.

Superficial On the outside. The external edge of the kidney is superficial to its internal structure.

Anatomic Directions

Term Meaning Example

Proximal Closest to point of attachment to trunk.

The elbow is proximal to the hand.

Distal Furthest from point of attachment to trunk.

The wrist is distal to the elbow.

Visceral Related to internal organs.

The thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities are lined with thin serous membranes

Parietal Related to the body walls.

which are composed of two layers: visceral (lines the internal organs) and parietal (lines the inside body wall)

Regional Anatomy

Regional Anatomy

Regional Name

Description

Abdominal Region inferior to the thorax (chest) and superior to the hip bones.

Antebrachial Forearm (the portion of the upper limb between the elbow and wrist.

Axillary Armpit.

Brachial Arm (the portion of the upper limb between the shoulder and the elbow).

Buccal Cheek.

Calcaneal Heel of the foot.

Carpal Wrist.

Regional Anatomy

Regional Name

Description

Cephalic Head.

Coxal Hip.

Cranial Head.

Crural Leg.

Deltoid Shoulder.

Digital Fingers or toes.

Dorsal Back.

Regional Anatomy

Regional Name

Description

Facial Face.

Femoral Thigh.

Frontal Forehead.

Gluteal Buttock.

Hallux Great toe.

Ingunial Groin.

Lumbar Loin.

Regional Anatomy

Regional Name

Description

Mammary Breast.

Nasal Nose.

Occipital Posterior base of the head.

Olecranial Posterior to the elbow.

Oral Mouth.

Orbital Eye.

Palmer Palm of the hand.

Regional Anatomy

Regional Name

Description

Patellar Kneecap

Pelvic Pelvis.

Perineal Region between the anus and the external reproductive organs.

Pes Foot.

Plantar Sole of the foot.

Pollex Thumb.

Popliteal Area posterior to knee.

Regional Anatomy

Regional Name

Description

Pubic Anterior region of the pelvis.

Sacral Posterior region of between the hip bones.

Scapular Shoulder blade.

Sternal Middle of the thorax, anteriorly.

Sural Calf.

Tarsal Ankle.

Thoracic Chest or thorax.

Umbilical Navel.

Vertebral Spinal column.

Anatomical Positions

Anatomic Position

Decubitus/Recumbent Position

Left/Right Lateral Recumbent

Supine

Prone

Fowler Position

Knee-chest Position

Lithotomy Position

Sims position

Trendelenburg Position

Decubitus/Recumbent Position

Means “lying down” Dorsal Recumbent (or decubitus)

Means lying down on back Left/Right Lateral Recumbent

Means lying down on left or right side

Left = recovery position

Anatomical Positions

Anatomic Positions

SupineMeans face up

Anatomical Positions

ProneMeans face down

High Fowler’s Position Patient is sitting upright as far as the bed can go Between 60-90 degree angle

Fowler Position Patient is sitting supine at 45-60 degree angle

Semi-Fowler’s Position 30-45 degree angleAnatomical

Positions

Anatomical Positions

Knee-Chest Position A prone position in which the individual rests on the

knees and upper part of the chest.

Anatomical Positions

Lithotomy Position A supine position of the body with the legs separated

and flexed

Anatomical Positions

Sims Position It is performed by having a patient lie on their left side,

left hip and lower extremity straight, and right hip and knee bent.

Interchangeable with lateral recumbent.

Anatomical Positions

• Trendelenberg Position• Patient lies face upward on a tilted table or

bed with the pelvis higher than the head.