Anatomic Directions Planes and Body Positions

Anatomic directions are necessary for describing the position of the body structure in relation to other structures. It helps to identify the course of a structure and its connections to various other organs and structures. Body planes helps to locate different body parts in relation to certain planes drawn through the human body.

Anatomic Directions:

Anterior (ventral) - Toward the front side (belly) of the body.

Posterior (dorsal) - Toward the back side of the body.

Medial (middle) - Toward the middle or midline of the body.

Lateral (side) - Toward the side of the body. Also away from the middle of the body.

Proximal (near) - Nearer to the point of attachment or to a given reference point. Near the beginning of a structure.

Distal (far) - Farther from the point of attachment or from a given reference point. Far away from the beginning of a structure.

Superior (above) -  Above another structure.

Inferior (below) - Below another structure.

Cranial (cephalic)  -  Toward the head.

Caudal  -  Toward the lower end of the spine.

Superficial (external) - Close to surface of the body. On the surface or towards the surface.

Deep (internal)  -  Close to the center of the body. Away from the surface.
Dorsal (back) - Relating to the back. Of, toward, on, in, or near the back or upper surface. The back side of the human body closely related to the backbone area. The top surface of the hand or foot.

Ventral (front) - Related to the abdomen or stomach. On the front side of the human body, usually the lower surface. The bottom portion of either hand or foot.

Planes:

Frontal plane (coronal plane) -  A vertical plane that passes from side to side and divides the body into anterior and posterior parts. It is also called as the coronal plane.

Sagittal plane (lateral) - A vertical plane that passes from front to back and divides the body into right and left parts. If the plane passes through the midline, it is a mid-sagittal or medial plane.

Transverse plane (cross sectional) -  A horizontal plane that divides the body into an upper and a lower half.  The plane passes horizontally dividing the body into superior and inferior parts.

Body Positions:

Anatomic position -  Human body standing erect, facing forward, arms at sides, with palms turned forward, legs parallel, and toes pointed forward. It is used as the position of reference in designating the site or direction of structures of the body.

Supine -  Lying face up. Lying on the back and face is up.

Prone -  Lying face down. Lying on the stomach and face is down.

Decubitus position  -   Lying down position. Specified according to the part of the body resting on a flat surface, as in left or right lateral decubitus, or dorsal or ventral decubitus. A position used in producing a radiograph of the chest or abdomen of a patient who is lying down, with the central ray horizontal.

Ventral decubitus - The patient may be prone, lying on the stomach.

Dorsal decubitus -  The patient may be supine, lying on the back.

Lateral decubitus - Lying on one side, designated right lateral decubitus when the subject lies on the right side and left lateral decubitus when on the left side.

Dorsal recumbant position  -  On back, with legs bent and separated and feet flat.

Fowler position  - On back, head of the bed is raised about 18 inches and knees elevated.

Semi-Fowler position - A position similar to Fowler's position but with the head less elevated.

Knee-chest position  - On knees, head and upper chest on table and arms crossed above head.

Left lateral recumbent position  - On left side, right leg drawn up.

Lithotomy position  -  On back, legs flexed on abdomen and thighs apart. lithotomy position  the patient supine with hips and knees flexed and thighs abducted and externally rotated.

Sims' position - The patient lies on the left side  with the left thigh slightly flexed and the right thigh acutely flexed  on the abdomen. The left arm is behind the body with the body inclined forward, and the right arm is positioned according to the patient's  comfort. The patient on the left side, and chest, the right knee and  thigh drawn up, the left arm along the back. Also called lateral position. On left side, right leg drawn up high and forward, left arm along back, and chest forward resting on bed.

Sims' recumbent position - A variant of Sims'  position in which the patient lies on the left side in a modified left lateral position; the upper leg is flexed at hip and knees, the lower   leg is straight, and the upper arm rests in a flexed position on the bed.

Trendelenburg position - The patient is on the  back (supine) on a table or bed or surface whose upper section or surface is inclined 45 degrees so that the head is lower than the rest of the body. The head is at the lower end and legs flexed over the upper end. The adjustable lower section of the table or bed is bent so that the patient's legs and knees are flexed. There is support to keep   the  patient from slipping.

Reverse  Trendelenburg position - A supine  position with the patient on a plane  inclined with the head higher than  the rest of the body and  appropriate safety devices such as a foot board.

Bozeman's position  - The knee-elbow position with straps used for support.

Fowler's position  - A position in which the head of the patient's bed is raised 30 to 90 degrees above the level with the knees sometimes also elevated. The head of the patient's bed is raised 18–20 inches above the level, with the knees also elevated.

Low Fowler's position - A frog-like position, batrachian position.

Knee-chest position  -  The patient resting on knees and upper chest. The patient rests on the knees and chest with  head is turned to one side, arms extended on the bed, and elbows flexed  and resting so that they partially bear the patient's weight. The abdomen remains unsupported, though a small pillow may be placed under  the chest. 

Knee-elbow position  - The patient resting on the knees and elbows with the chest elevated.

Mayer position - A radiographic position that gives a unilateral superoinferior view of the temporomandibular joint, external auditory canal, and mastoid and petrous processes.

Rose's position  - A supine position with the head over the table edge in full extension, to prevent aspiration or swallowing of blood. Rose's position one intended to prevent  aspiration or swallowing of blood, as from an injured lip. The patient  is supine with head hanging over the end of the table in full extension  so as to enable bleeding to be over the margins of the inverted upper  incisors.

Verticosubmental position  - A radiographic position that gives an axial projection of the mandible, including the coronoid and condyloid processes of the rami, the base of the skull and its foramina, the petrous pyramids, the sphenoidal, posterior ethmoid, and maxillary sinuses, and the nasal septum.

Waters' position - A radiographic position that gives a posteroanterior view of the maxillary sinus, maxilla, orbits, and zygomatic arches.

Batrachian position - A lying position of infants in which the lower limbs are flexed, abducted, and resting on the bed on their outer aspects, resembling the legs of a frog.

Lateral position - Sims' position.

Lithotomy position - The patient lies on the back with the legs well separated, thighs acutely flexed on the abdomen, and legs on thighs. Stirrups may be used to support the feet and legs.

Orthopneic position - A  position assumed to relieve orthopnea (difficulty breathing except when in an upright position). The patient assumes an upright or semivertical position by using pillows to support the head and chest, or sits upright in a chair.

Prone position - A position with the patient lying face down with arms bent comfortably at the elbow and padded with the arm boards positioned forward.