Terminology
1.anatomy: the study of the structure of the body and the relationship
of its parts to each other
2.physiology: the study of the function of the living body and its parts
3.anatomical position: a position in which the patient is standing
erect, facing forward, with arms down at the sides and palms
forward
4.supine: lying face up
5.prone: lying face down
6.lateral recumbent position: a position in which the patient is lying on
the left or right side
7.Fowler's position: a position in which the patient is lying on the back
with the superior body elevated at a 45 to 60 degree angle
8.Semi-Fowler's position: a position in which the patient is lying on the
back with upper body elevated at less than 45 degrees
9.Trendelenburg position: lying on the back with the lower part of
the body elevated higher than the head on an inclined plane
10.Shock Position: elevation of the legs of a supine patient
approximately 12 inches; an alternative to the Trendelenburg position;
sometimes useful for treating a simple faint but no longer
recommended in the treatment of shock
11.anterior: toward the front
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, 12.posterior: toward the back
13.superior: toward the head
14.inferior: beneath, lower, or toward the feet
15.dorsal: toward the back or the spine
16.ventral: toward the front, or toward the anterior portion of the body
17.medial: toward the midline or center of the body
18.lateral: refers to the left or right of the midline, or away from the
midline, or to the side of the body
19.bilateral: on both sides
20.proximal: near the trunk
21.distal: distant, or far from the trunk
22.right: refers to the patient's right
23.left: refers to the patient's left
24.plantar: refers to the sole of the foot
25.palmar: relates to the palm of the hand
26.abdominal quadrants: the four parts of the abdomen as divided by
imaginary horizontal and vertical lines through the umbilicus
27.cranium: the bones that form the top, back, and sides of the skull
plus the forehead
28.orbits: the bony structures that surround the eyes; the eye sockets
29.maxillae: the fixed upper portion of the jaw
30.zygomatic bones: the cheekbones
31.mandible: the lower movable portion of the jaw
32.intervertebral disk: a fluid-filled pad of touch elastic cartilage that
acts as a shock absorber and allows for movement of the spine
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