ANATOMICAL REFERENCE POSITIONS

Refers to the specific body orientation used when describing an individual’s anatomy.

Consists of the body standing upright and facing forward with the legs parallel to one another. The upper limbs, or arms, hang at either side and the palms face forward.

If the body is lying flat instead of standing upright, with the same positioning of the limbs,

The five regions of the bodyBo

Includes the skull and face.

Consists of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis

Include the arms, armpits, and shoulders

Consist of the legs, buttocks, thighs, knees, ankles, and feet.

Three planes of the body

Are imaginary reference points that divide the body into various sections in order to help describe relative anatomy.

Is a vertical plane that travels down the middle of the human body and divides the body into right and left portions.

Runs vertically through the side of the body, dividing it into the front of the body (anterior) and the back of the body (posterior).

Runs horizontally, separating the top half of the body from the bottom half.

Standing with feet and palms facing front.

Lying on back, face upward

Lying on front, face downward

Above

Below

In front of

In back of

Closer toward midline

Farther from midline

Closer to root of limb

Farther from root of limb

Closer to the surface of body

Farther from the surface of body

Anterior aspect of hand

Prosterior aspect of hand; top aspect of foot

Bottom aspect of foot