Index of Medical Imaging


By Jonathan McConnell

John Wiley & Sons

Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
All right reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4051-8544-8


Chapter One

Positioning Terminology

The standard anatomical position is assumed, with the individual standing facing the observer with feet turned slightly outwards and hands abducted away from the body and palms flat and visible. In respect to this, several terms can be discussed from this starting position to describe positioning and relations of structures.

Relational terms

Anterior towards the front of the body; alternative term is ventral

Posterior towards the back of the body; alternative term is dorsal

Medial towards the midline of the body

Lateral away from the midline towards the side of the body

Proximal towards the origin of the structure

Distal away from the structure's origin (or further from the body)

Superior towards the head (cranial or cephalad) or above

Inferior towards the feet (caudal/caudad) or below

Oblique from the anatomical position rotation of the body in either direction

Anatomical planes

Sagittal The mid or median sagittal plane vertically divides the body into two equal (right and left) halves. Other sagittal planes are subsequently parallel with this.

Coronal A second vertical plane that can pass through the body to divide it into anterior or posterior sections lying at right angles to the mid-sagittal plane.

Transverse These are also termed axial planes; the transverse plane divides the body into superior and inferior sections so generating horizontal cross-sections.

Body movements

Understanding body movements is important so that the correct position is adopted for images that may be produced.

Flexion bending a joint to bring the components closer to each other

Extension stretching of a joint to separate or elongate joint components relative to each other

Supination a movement that allows the anterior surface to lie upwards

Pronation a movement that allows the anterior surface to lie downwards

Adduction movement of a limb towards the midline (or closer to the body)

Abduction movement of a limb away from the midline

Inversion rotation of a joint towards the midline

Eversion rotation of a joint away from the midline

Internal rotation rotation towards the centre of the body

External rotation rotation away from the centre of the body

Decubitus to lie on a surface of the body and direct a horizontal beam X-ray toward the patient, e.g. dorsal decubitus is to lie on the back with image receptor alongside the patient and effectively a lateral projection is generated by the horizontal ray. Lateral decubitus would have the patient lying on their side.

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