Directional Terms and Planes

42 cards·by jennybakalov

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directional terms

communicated a specific location or direction of movement

What do directional terms often describe?

location on or within the body; location on or within anatomical structure, such as organ; etc

anatomic position

the standard, neural position of reference

radiologists

physicians who diagnose and treat diseases and injuries using imaging technology, including x-rays, etc

radiologic technologists (RTs)

perform diagnostic imaging examinations and administer radiation therapy treatments

radiation therapists

the radiologic technologists who specialize in radiation therapy

medical dosimetrists

the radiological technologists who specialize in radiation therapy

antero

front

caudo

tail (downward)

cephalo

head (upward)

disto

away (from the point of attachment of a body part)

dorso

back

infero

below

latero

side

medio

middle

postero

back, behind

proximo

near (the point of attachment of a body part)

supero

above

ventro

belly (front)

toward

al, ic, ior

pertaining to

ventral

refers to the front of the body or anatomic structure described

dorsal

refers to the back of the body or anatomic structure described

posterior

refers to the back of the body or anatomic structure described

posteroanterior

used to describe the direction of the x-ray beam used in radiography

anteroposterior

used to describe the direction of the x-ray beam used in radiography

superior

indicates toward the head

inferior

indicates toward the pelvis

anterosuperior

indicates direction or location toward the front and above

cephalic

used to describe locations within the head and trunk of the body and is not used to describe the limbs

caudal

used to describe locations within the head and trunk of the body and is not used to describe the limbs

cephalad

indicates movement in a specific direction as might be seen describing a surgical approach or diagnostic projection angle

caudad