9 Identify Anatomical Locations
Amanda Shelton
Anatomical Position
When it comes to describing movement and body areas, it is important to be able to identify anatomical locations. Whenever discussing the body and its position in relation to itself or others, it is important that we first identify the anatomical position. This position helps us to minimize confusion when referring to the human body by standardizing the body’s position.
“File:Anatomical position.jpg” by Connexions is licensed under CC BY 3.0
Description: a person standing facing forward with arms down at their side with their palms facing forward.
Describing Locations
Whenever we reference the body to describe locations, we will always use descriptions that compare body areas in relation to the anatomical position. We have several opposing descriptions that we can use to identify locations:
- right and left
- superior and inferior
- proximal and distal
- anterior and posterior
- medial and lateral
- internal and external
- contralateral and ipsilateral
- prone and supine
Right vs. Left
Most of the time, people are good about being able to identify their own right and left sides. It is important to consider that when we are describing anatomical locations that we always refer to the person’s left or right and not our own. This means that even if we are looking at the person (and they are looking at us) our left will be their right and our left will be their right. This can sometimes be confusing, especially when you are used to only describing your own right or left. For this reason, when we begin to discuss different movements later on in the chapter and throughout the textbook, sometimes it will be easier to use different and more specific descriptors than left or right.
Superior vs. Inferior
Superior and inferior descriptors refer to being above or below the reference point. Superior (or cranial) means that you are closer to the head than the reference point while inferior (or caudal) means that you are closer to the feet than the reference point. Remember – we are always describing locations in reference to the anatomical position, so even if someone changes their body position the description of locations using superior/inferior would remain the same.
Superior/Inferior Examples
The knee joint is inferior to the hip joint.
The sternum is superior to the pelvis.
The lumbar vertebrae are inferior to the cervical vertebrae.
The carpals are superior to the phalanges.
Proximal vs. Distal
Proximal and distal descriptors refer to being further or nearer to the center of the body or the point of reference being discussed. Proximal means that you are nearer to the center of the body or reference point while distal means you are further from the center of the body or reference point. Again, when we reference the center of the body, this is in relation to the anatomical position.
Proximal/Distal Examples
The distal end of the humerus is at the elbow.
The hip joint is proximal to the ankle