Anatomical position


Planes of the body


The median plane – vertical plane passing through the middle of the body divides body (or organ)
into two equal portions (halves).

The sagittal planes – vertical planes passing through the body parallel to median plane. They
divide the body into unequal right and left portions.


The frontal (or coronal) planes – passing through the body  at right angles to median plane,
dividing body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.


The transversal (horizontal) planes – passing through the body  at right angles to the median and
frontal planes and divides the body into upper and lower portions.


Basic of the anatomical nomenclature


Vertical axis:

Cranialis (superior, above) – toward the head

Caudalis (inferior, below) – toward the feet (cauda = tail)


Transversal axis:

Medialis – toward the median plane

Lateralis – farther away from the median plane, from the middle

Medius (intermediate) – in the midline

Medianus – within the median plane


Sagittal axis:

Frontalis (anterior) – nearer to the front of the body

Dorsalis (posterior) – nearer to the back of the body


Limbs:

Proximalis – nearest from the trunk or point of origin of a limb

Distalis – farthest from the trunk or point of origin of a limb


Upper limb:

Radialis (lateralis) – father away from the median plane

Medialis (ulnaris) – toward the median plane

Palmaris – palm side of the hand

Dorsalis – back side of the hand (in this case opposit of palmar)


Lower limb:

Tibialis (medialis) toward the tibia

Fibularis (lateralis) toward the fibula

Plantaris – on or toward the sole of the foot

Dorsalis – toward the back (in this case opposit of plantar)


Some of the most used terms and their meaning:


Corpus – a body

Trochlea – a pulley

Superior – upper

Inferior – lower

Dexter – on the right side

Sinister – on the left side

Pars – a part

Crista – a crest

Impressio – an impression, imprint

Facies articularis – an articular surface, area

Substantia compacta – compact bone

Substantia spongiosa – spongy bone

Medulla ossium – bone marrow

Cavum medullare – marrow cavity

Diploe – spongy bone inside of plane bones

Arteria – an artery, a. (aa.)

Vena – a vein, v. (vv.)

Nervus – a  nerve, n. (nn.)

Thorax – a trunk, chest

Musculus – a muscle, m. (mm.)

Sulcus – a groove

Incisura – a notch

Canalis – a canal

Fossa – a pit, hollow

Fovea – a pit, hollow

Processus – a projection, prominence

Spina – a thorn

Tuberculum – a  tubercle

Tuber – a torus

Tuberositas – a tuberosity

Foramen – an opening, orifice, gap

Facies – a facet, surface

Articulus – a joint

Os, ossis, ossa – a bone, bones

Externus – external

Internus – internal

Superficialis – superficial

Profundus – deep

Caput – a head

Capitulum – a small head

Collum, cervix – a neck


Parts of the human body

head – caput

neck – collum (cervix)


trunk – truncus:  chest – thorax

                              belly – abdomen

basin – pelvis

back – dorsum

upper limb – membrum superius

arm – brachium

forearm – antebrachium

hand – manus

lower limb – membrum inferius

thigh – femur

leg – crus

foot – pes


Radiology and anatomy


A highly penetrating beam of x-rays „transluminates“ the pacient, showing tissues of differing
densities on x-ray film.

A tissue or organ that is relatively dense absorbs (stops) more x-rays  than a less dense tissue.

Simple X – ray (native)

X– ray with contrast materials

      a) positive (iodide preparations, barium meal)

      b) negative (air, gases)

 Projection according to the course    of x-ray   (anteroposterior, lateral)