Chapter 2: The Body and Its Terminology

1. Chapter 2: The Body and Its Terminology

2. Introduction • Learning terminology is integral part of proficiency • Study of human body involves scientific names for structures, locations, and physiological mechanisms • For manual therapists, medical terminology allows clear communication • Medical terminology is needed for understanding pathologies and scientific research

3. Orientation to the Body • Anatomic position: standard body reference position used to navigate anatomical terminology

4. Orientation to the Body (cont’d) • Body planes: used to describe location and position of structures (see Figure 2-2) • Sagittal plane: vertically divides body or part into right and left • Frontal (coronal) plane: vertically divides body or part into front and back • Transverse (horizontal) plane: horizontally divides body or part into top and bottom

5. Orientation to the Body (cont’d) • Directional terms clearly communicate position of one body part in relation to another • Example: “the scar is superior and lateral to the left nostril” • Directional terms are easier to understand and remember in pairs of contrasting terms (see Figure 2-3)

6. Key Directional Terms

7. Key Directional Terms (cont’d)

8. Orientation to the Body (cont’d) • Movement terminology describes how structures move in general and in relation to other parts • Movements on frontal plane move toward (adduction) or away from (abduction) midline • Movements on transverse plane move toward (horizontal adduction) or away from (horizontal abduction) midline • Movements on sagittal plane move toward front (flexion) or back (extension)

9. Movement Terminology • Abduction and adduction

10. Movement Terminology (cont’d) • Horizontal abduction and adduction

11. Movement Terminology (cont’d) • Flexion and extension

12. Movement Terminology (cont’d) • Rotation and circumduction

13. Common Anatomical Terminology • Understanding terms important for study of body • Anatomical terminology describes location and relative position of structures more precisely • Manual therapists use medical language to communicate with health care community

14. Prefixes, Suffixes, and Word Roots • Many anatomy and physiology terms formed by combining word roots, prefixes, and suffixes • Knowing common word parts makes it easier to understand complex terms • See Table 2-3 for common word parts used in manual therapies

15. Body Regions • Regional terminology describes areas and divisions of body more precisely • See Table 2-4 and Figures 2-8 through 2-10 for common terms referring to body regions • Examples of regional terms: sternal, carpal, scapular, lumbar, gluteal, femoral, calcaneal, plantar

16. Body Cavities • Four primary body cavities: ventral (anterior) or dorsal (posterior) - see Figure 2-11 • Ventral cavities: thoracic cavity (lungs and heart) and abdominopelvic cavity (organs within abdomen and pelvis) • Quadrant method and nine-region method used to subdivide abdominopelvic cavity (see Figure 2-12) • Dorsal cavities: cranial cavity (brain) and spinal cavity (spinal cord)

17. Pathology Classifications and Terminology • Pathology: study of disease • Manual therapists should know commonly used classifications and terminology • See Table 2-5 for basic pathology terms • Examples: acute, chronic, contraindication, diagnosis, lesion, prognosis, sign, symptom

18. Classifications of Disease • Diseases broadly classified by causes: • Infectious • Pathogens (e.g., bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites) • Environmental (e.g., cigarette smoke) • Hereditary (e.g., hemophilia) • Nutrition and lifestyle (e.g., dietary deficiencies)