Anatomical Directional Terms

Introduction

• Importance of understanding anatomical directional terms.
• Use of standard anatomical position for consistent orientation.
  • Standard Position: Standing upright, head and eyes forward, arms at the sides, palms facing forward, legs parallel, feet flat facing forward.
  • Right and Left: Refers to patient's sides, not observer's.

Anatomical Planes

• Sagittal Plane: Divides body into right and left sections.
• Transverse Plane: Divides body into upper and lower sections.
• Coronal Plane: Divides body into front and back sections.

Directional Terms

Medial and Lateral

• Medial: Toward the midline of the body.
  • Mnemonic: Medial, Midline, Middle (all start with 'M').
• Lateral: Toward the side of the body.
  • Mnemonic: Lateral, Lats (side back muscles).
• Examples:
  • Nose is medial to the eyes.
  • Eyes are lateral to the nose.
  • Arms are lateral to the torso.
  • Lungs are lateral to the heart.

Superior and Inferior

• Superior: Toward the head.
  • Mnemonic: Superior and Skull (both start with 'S').
• Inferior: Away from the head, toward the feet.
  • Mnemonic: Inferior, Floor.
• Alternate Terms: Cranial (superior), Caudal (inferior).
• Examples:
  • Eyes are superior to the nose.
  • Mouth is inferior to the nose.
  • Heart is superior to the liver.

Anterior and Posterior

• Anterior: Toward the front of the body.
  • Mnemonic: Anterior comes before Posterior alphabetically.
• Posterior: Toward the back of the body.
• Alternate Terms: Ventral (anterior), Dorsal (posterior).
• Examples:
  • Frontal lobe is anterior to occipital lobe.
  • Patella is on the anterior side of the leg.

Proximal and Distal

• Proximal: Toward the trunk or point of attachment.
  • Mnemonic: Proximity (means near).
• Distal: Away from the trunk or point of attachment.
  • Mnemonic: Distant (means far).
• Examples:
  • Wrist is proximal to the hand.
  • Elbow is distal to the shoulder.

Superficial and Deep

• Superficial: Closer to the surface of the body.
  • Mnemonic: Superficial and Surface (both start with 'S').
• Deep: Away from the surface of the body.
• Examples:
  • Skin is superficial to the ribs.
  • Lungs are deep to the ribs.

Unilateral and Bilateral

• Unilateral: Involving one side of the body.
  • Mnemonic: Uni means one.
• Bilateral: Involving both sides of the body.
  • Mnemonic: Bi means two.
• Examples:
  • Rash on one arm is unilateral.
  • Rash on both arms is bilateral.

Ipsilateral and Contralateral

• Ipsilateral: On the same side of the body.
  • Mnemonic: Ipsy means same.
• Contralateral: On opposite sides of the body.
  • Mnemonic: Contra means opposite.
• Examples:
  • Injuries on the same arm are ipsilateral.
  • Injuries on opposite arms are contralateral.

Conclusion

• Importance of directional terms for clear communication in anatomy.
• Encouragement to review related videos for better understanding.
• Notes and resources available on the website.