chapter 3: directional terms, planes, positions, regions, and quadrants
TRANSCRIPT
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