Question

 

Discuss the anatomical position and directional terms in detail.

Answer 1

Anatomical directional terms:

• The directional language of anatomy that exists inorder to minimize confusion when discussing areas or specific points on the body.
• This directional terminology or language isused in reference to the anatomical position.
• This is a position that when aperson stands erect, face pointing forward, arms at the sides, palms facing forward, and feet also pointing forward.
• If everyone is looking at the body in the exact same position, there will beless confusion when disussing anything related to anatomy.
• Superior - It means to toward the head, but it can also mean upper or above.
• Inferior - It means toward the feet, but it can also mean lower or below.
• Example of Superior and Inferior - The heart is located superior to the samll intestine or the small intestine islocated inferior to the heart.
• Anterior - It means further to the front or in front of.
• Posterior - It means further to the back or in back of.
• Example of Anterior and Posterior - The sternum is anterior to the heart or the heart is posterior to the sternum.
• Sometimes the terms ventral and dorsal are used in place of anterior and posterior, where ventral means anterior and dorsal means posterior.
• Anterior and posterior can also be used to describe how you are  looking at the body.
• While the body will always be referenced from the anatomical position, it can be viewed from the anterior view, which means looking at the body from the front, and it can also  be viewed from  the posterior view,  which  means looking atit from the back.
• Medial - It means towards the midline of the body.
• Lateral - It means toward the side of the body, or away from the midline of the body.
• The midline is the imaginary line that divides the body into left and right halves.
• Example of Medial and Lateral - The heart lies  medial to the lungs or the lungs lie lateral to the heart.
• Lateral can also be used to describe hoe we are looking at the body.
• While the body will always be referenced from the anatomical position, it can be viewed from the lateral view, which means looking at the body from hte side.
• Proximal and Distal are the terms that are usually when describing the parts of the appendicular body.
• The axial body consists of the head, neck and trunk.
• The appendicular body consists of the limbs or appendages that are addedto the axial body.
• Proximal - It means closer to the axial body or toward the trunk of the body.
• Distal - It means further from the axail body, or further from the trunk of the body.
• Example of Proximal and Distal - The thigh is proximal to the foot, or the foot is distal to the thigh.
• Superficial - It means closer to the surface of the body.
• Deep - It means further away from  the surface of the body.
• Example of Superficial and Deep - The sternum is superficial to the lungs or the lungs are deep to the sternum.

Anatomy:

The branch of science that studies the structure of the body and relation of one body part to another body part.