Key Takeaways
- Anatomical position is the standard reference: body upright, facing forward, palms forward, feet together
- Anterior (ventral) means toward the front; posterior (dorsal) means toward the back
- Superior (cranial) means toward the head; inferior (caudal) means toward the feet
- Medial means toward the midline; lateral means away from the midline
- Proximal means closer to the point of attachment; distal means farther from it
- Superficial means closer to the body surface; deep means farther from the surface
- Body planes include sagittal (left/right), frontal/coronal (front/back), and transverse (top/bottom)
- These terms are essential for nursing documentation, describing wound locations, and understanding medical imaging
Directional & Positional Terms
Healthcare professionals use precise directional and positional terminology to describe body locations, avoiding ambiguity. The HESI A2 tests your knowledge of these fundamental terms, which are critical for nursing documentation and communication.
Anatomical Position
All directional terms are based on the standard anatomical position:
- Body standing upright
- Facing forward (toward the observer)
- Arms at the sides with palms facing forward
- Feet together, toes pointing forward
This standard ensures that everyone interprets directional terms the same way, regardless of the patient's actual position.
Directional Terms
| Term | Meaning | Opposite | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anterior (Ventral) | Toward the front | Posterior | The sternum is anterior to the spine |
| Posterior (Dorsal) | Toward the back | Anterior | The spine is posterior to the sternum |
| Superior (Cranial) | Toward the head / above | Inferior | The head is superior to the chest |
| Inferior (Caudal) | Toward the feet / below | Superior | The stomach is inferior to the lungs |
| Medial | Toward the midline | Lateral | The nose is medial to the ears |
| Lateral | Away from the midline | Medial | The ears are lateral to the nose |
| Proximal | Closer to point of attachment | Distal | The elbow is proximal to the wrist |
| Distal | Farther from point of attachment | Proximal | The fingers are distal to the wrist |
| Superficial (External) | Closer to the body surface | Deep | The skin is superficial to muscle |
| Deep (Internal) | Farther from the body surface | Superficial | Bones are deep to the skin |
| Prone | Lying face down | Supine | Patient positioned prone for back surgery |
| Supine | Lying face up | Prone | Patient positioned supine for abdominal exam |
| Ipsilateral | On the same side | Contralateral | The right arm and right leg are ipsilateral |
| Contralateral | On the opposite side | Ipsilateral | The right arm and left leg are contralateral |
| Unilateral | Affecting one side | Bilateral | Unilateral leg pain (one leg only) |
| Bilateral | Affecting both sides | Unilateral | Bilateral lung sounds (both lungs) |
Body Planes
Body planes are imaginary flat surfaces used to divide the body for anatomical study and medical imaging:
| Plane | Division | What It Separates |
|---|---|---|
| Sagittal (median) | Vertical, left to right | Divides body into left and right halves |
| Midsagittal | Exactly down the center | Equal left and right halves |
| Frontal (Coronal) | Vertical, front to back | Divides body into anterior and posterior portions |
| Transverse (Horizontal) | Horizontal | Divides body into superior and inferior portions |
Clinical Application: CT scans typically produce transverse (axial) images. MRI can produce images in any plane. Understanding body planes helps nurses interpret diagnostic imaging reports.
Body Cavities
| Cavity | Location | Contains |
|---|---|---|
| Cranial | Within the skull | Brain |
| Spinal (Vertebral) | Within the vertebral column | Spinal cord |
| Thoracic | Chest | Heart, lungs, esophagus |
| Abdominal | Abdomen | Stomach, liver, intestines, kidneys |
| Pelvic | Pelvis | Bladder, reproductive organs, rectum |
The thoracic and abdominal cavities are separated by the diaphragm.
Abdominal Quadrants
The abdomen is divided into four quadrants for clinical assessment:
| Quadrant | Abbreviation | Key Organs |
|---|---|---|
| Right Upper Quadrant | RUQ | Liver, gallbladder, right kidney |
| Left Upper Quadrant | LUQ | Stomach, spleen, left kidney, pancreas |
| Right Lower Quadrant | RLQ | Appendix, right ovary/fallopian tube |
| Left Lower Quadrant | LLQ | Descending colon, left ovary/fallopian tube |
Nursing Application: When documenting abdominal pain, use quadrant terminology — for example, "Patient reports sharp pain in the RLQ" (which may suggest appendicitis).
Movement Terms
| Term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Flexion | Bending a joint (decreasing the angle) | Bending the elbow |
| Extension | Straightening a joint (increasing the angle) | Straightening the elbow |
| Abduction | Moving away from the midline | Raising the arm out to the side |
| Adduction | Moving toward the midline | Lowering the arm back to the side |
| Rotation | Turning around an axis | Turning the head left or right |
| Circumduction | Circular movement | Swinging the arm in a circle |
| Dorsiflexion | Pulling the foot/toes upward | Pointing toes toward the shin |
| Plantar flexion | Pointing the foot/toes downward | Standing on tiptoes |
| Pronation | Rotating the forearm palm-down | Turning palm to face the floor |
| Supination | Rotating the forearm palm-up | Turning palm to face the ceiling |
| Inversion | Turning the sole of the foot inward | Foot rolls inward at the ankle |
| Eversion | Turning the sole of the foot outward | Foot rolls outward at the ankle |
| Elevation | Moving a body part upward | Shrugging shoulders upward |
| Depression | Moving a body part downward | Lowering shoulders back down |
| Protraction | Moving a body part forward | Jutting the jaw forward |
| Retraction | Moving a body part backward | Pulling the jaw back |
Regional Body Terminology
Healthcare professionals use specific terms to refer to body regions:
| Term | Body Region |
|---|---|
| Cervical | Neck |
| Thoracic | Chest |
| Lumbar | Lower back |
| Sacral | Base of spine |
| Brachial | Upper arm |
| Antecubital | Front of elbow |
| Femoral | Thigh |
| Popliteal | Back of knee |
| Plantar | Sole of foot |
| Palmar | Palm of hand |
| Axillary | Armpit |
| Inguinal | Groin |
| Orbital | Eye socket |
| Buccal | Cheek |
| Gluteal | Buttock |
Nursing relevance: Documentation often references body regions. "The patient reports pain in the lumbar region" is more precise than "the patient has back pain."
In anatomical position, "anterior" refers to:
The elbow is _____ to the wrist.
Which body plane divides the body into anterior and posterior portions?
Match each directional term to its correct meaning.
Match each item on the left with the correct item on the right
A patient lying face UP is in the _____ position.
Type your answer below
A nurse documents that a patient has pain in the RLQ. Which organ is located in the right lower quadrant and could be the source of pain?
Which of the following correctly describe the term "bilateral"? (Select all that apply)
Select all that apply
Bending the elbow is an example of: