MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

Chapter 3: Directional Terms, Planes, Positions, Regions, and Quadrants

Chapter 3 Abbreviations

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abn abd AP CXR L, LT

= Less than= Greater than= Increase= Decrease= Abnormal= Abdomen= Anteroposterior (x-ray)= Chest x-ray= left

Chapter 3 Abbreviations

LAT LLQ LUQ PA R, RT RLQ RUQ trans

= Lateral= Left lower quadrant= Left upper quadrant= Posteroanterior (x-ray)= Right= Right lower quadrant= Right upper quadrant= transverse

Chapter 3 Abbreviations

HPI postop Preop Prep S/P or s/p

Gm,gm mg

= History of present illness= Postoperative= Preoperative= Prepare for = Status post

= gram= milligram

Directional Terms

Anatomical Position Body is viewed as

standing erect, arms at the side, palms of the hands facing forward, and feet placed side by side

Word Parts for Directional Terms

Combining Form Definition

anter/o caud/o cephal/o dist/o

dors/o infer/o later/o

front tail (downward) head(upward) away(from the point of

attachment of a body part) back below side

Word Parts for Directional Terms

Combining Form Definition

medi/o poster/o proxim/o

super/o ventr/o

middle back/behind near (the point of

attachment of a body part)

above belly (front)

Word Parts for Directional Terms

Prefix Definition

bi- uni-

two one

Suffix Definition

-ior, –ac,

-ar, -ary,

-eal, -otic

pertaining to

Directional Terms

lateral (lat) pertaining to a side

medial (med) pertaining to the

middle

Directional Terms

Proximal Pertaining to near

(to the point of attachment)

Distal Pertaining to away

(from the point of attachment)

Directional Terms

inferior (inf) Pertaining to below

caudal pertaining to the tail

superior (sup) pertaining to above

cephalic pertaining to the

head

Directional Terms

anterior (ant) Pertaining to the front

ventral pertaining to the belly

posterior pertaining to the back

dorsal pertaining to the back

Directional Terms

anteroposterior (AP) pertaining to the

front and to the back

posteroanterior (PA) pertaining to the

back and to the front

Anotomic Planes

Planes are imaginary flat fields used as points of reference Frequently used in diagnostic imaging and surgery

Anatomic Planes Frontal (Coronal)

Vertical field passing through the body from side to side, dividing the body into anterior and posterior

Anatomic Planes

Midsagittal Vertical field

running through the body from front to back at the midline, dividing the body equally into right and left halves

Anatomic Planes

Sagittal Vertical field

running through the body from front to back, dividing the body into right and left sides (any plane parallel to the midsagittal plane)

Parasagittal Vertical field

running through the body from front to back, dividing the body into unequal left and right sides

Anatomic Planes

Transverse Horizontal field

dividing the body into superior and inferior portions

Anatomic Planes

Body Positions

Fowler position Semi-sitting position with slight elevation

of the knees

Body Positions

Prone Lying on abdomen, facing downward

(head may be turned to one side)

Body Positions

Supine Lying on back, facing upward

Abdominopelvic Regions

Umbilical region (1) Around the navel

Lumbar regions (2) To the right/left of

the umbilical region, near the waist

Epigastric region (1) Superior to the

umbilical region, generally above the stomach

Abdominopelvic Regions

Hypochondriach regions (2) To the right/left of the

epigastric region

Hypogastric region (1) Inferior to the

umbilical region

Iliac regions (2) To the right/left of the

hypogastric region, near the groin

Diagram(s)

Planes Directionals

Midsagittal Frontal Transverse

Lateral/Medial Anterior/Posterior Proximal/Distal Superior/Inferior