Chapter 1: Introduction to Sectional Anatomy

Sagittal

Vertical plane that passes through the body, dividing it into right and left portions

Coronal

Vertical plane that passes through the body, dividing it into anterior and posterior portion.

Axial/Transverse

Horizontal plane that passes through the body, dividing it into superior and inferior portions.

Oblique

Plane that passes diagonally between the axes of two other planes.

Coronal

Identify plane

Sagittal

Identify plane

Transverse

Identify plane

Superior

Directional terminology for, above: at a higher level

Inferior

Directional terminology for below; at a lower level

Anterior

Directional terminology for, toward the front or anterior surface of the body

Posterior

Directional terminology for, toward the back or posterior surface of the body

Medial

Directional terminology for, toward the midsagittal plane

Lateral directional term

Directional terminology for, away from the midsagittal plane

Proximal

Directional terminology for, toward a reference point or source within the body

Distal

Directional terminology for, away from a reference point of source within a body

Superficial

Directional terminology for near the surface of the body

Deep

Directional terminology for, farther into the body and away from the body surface

Cranial/ Cephalic

Directional terminology toward the head

Caudal

Directional terminology toward the feet

Rostral

Directional terminology toward the nose

Ipsilateral

Directional terminology on the same side

Contralateral

Directional terminology on different side

Thenar

Directional terminology for the fleshy part of the hand at the base of the thumb

Volar

Pertaining to the palm of the hand or flexor surface of wrist or the sole of the foot

Palmer

Directional terminology for the front or palm of the hand

Plantar

Directional terminology for the sole of the foot

Abdomen

Regional terminology for abdomen

Antebrachial

Regional terminology for forearm

Antecubital

Regional terminology for front of elbow

Axillary

Regional terminology for armpit

Brachial

Regional terminology for upper arm

Calf

Regional terminology for lower posterior portion of leg

Carpal

Regional terminology for, wrist

Cephalic

Regional terminology for head

Cervical

Regional terminology for neck

Costal

Regional terminology for ribs

Cubital

Regional terminology for posterior surface of elbow area of the arm

Femoral

Regional terminology for thigh, upper portion of leg

Flank direction

Regional terminology for side of trunk adjoining the lumbar region

Gluteal

Regional terminology for buttock

Inguinal

Regional terminology for groin

Lumbar

Regional terminology for lower back between the ribs and hips

Occipital

Regional terminology for back of the head

Ophthalmic

Regional terminology for eye

Pectoral/ Mammary

Regional terminology for upper chest or breast

Pelvic

Regional terminology for pelvis

Perineal

Regional terminology for perineum

Plantar

Regional terminology for sole of the foot

Popliteal

Regional terminology for back of the knee

Sacral

Regional terminology for sacrum

Sternal

Regional terminology for sternum

Thoracic

Regional terminology for chest

Umbilical

Regional terminology for navel

Vertebral

Regional terminology for spine

Cephalic

Identify region

Ophthalmic

Identify region

Otic

Identify region

Tarsal

Identify region

Antecubital

Identify region

Navel/ Umbilical

Identify region

Aortic Arch

Internal landmark that is located 2.5 cm below the jugular notch

Aortic Bifurcation

Internal landmark that is located at L4-L5

Carina

Internal landmark that is located at T4-T5

Carotid Bifurcation

Internal landmark that is located at the upper border of thyroid cartilage

Circle of Willis

Internal landmark that is located in the suprasellar cistern

Conus Medullaris

Internal landmark that is at T12 to L1-L2

Apex of Heart

Internal landmark that is located at the 5th intercostal space, left midclavicular line

Base of Heart

Internal landmark that is located at the 2nd and 3rd costal cartilages behind sternum

Inferior Mesenteric Artery

Internal landmark that is located at 4cm above bifurcation of abdominal aorta

Inferior Vena Cava

Internal landmark that is located at the L5 level

Superior Mesenteric Artery

Internal landmark that is located 2 cm above transpyloric plane

Mediastinum

Body cavity that contains the thymus, heart, great vessels, trachea, esophagus and pericardium

Right Upper

Quadrant that contains the right lobe of liver, gallbladder, right kidney, portions of stomach, small and large intestines

Left Upper

Quadrant that contains the left lobe of the liver, stomach, tail of pancreas, left kidney, spleen, portions of the large intestines

Right Lower

Quadrant that contains the cecum, appendix, portions of small intestine, right ureter, right ovary, right spermatic cord

Left Lower

Quadrant that contains most of small intestine, portions of large intestine, left ureter, left ovary, left spermatic cord

Pixel/ Voxel

Regions that are assigned a numerical value corresponding to a specific tissue property

Hounsfield Units

Measure of the beam attenuation capability of a specific structure. Also called pixel values, density numbers or CT numbers

Water

Used as the reference tissue and has a value of zero

Denser

A CT number greater than zero represents tissues that are ______ than water and will appear in progressively lighter shades of gray to white