A third example is the word tonsillitis.
TONSIL = tonsil (a specific organ) root
ITIS = inflammation suffix
TONSILLITIS = an inflammation of the tonsils
1-8. THE ANATOMICAL POSITION
The anatomical position is an artificial posture of the human body (see figure
1-2). This position is used as a standard reference throughout the medical profession.
We always speak of the parts of the body as if the body were in the anatomical position.
This is true regardless of what position the body is actually in. The anatomical position
is described as follows:
a. The body stands erect, with heels together.
b. Upper members are along the sides, with the palms of the hands facing
forward.
c. The head faces forward.
1-9. PLANES OF THE BODY
See figures 1-3A through 1-3C for the imaginary planes used to describe the
body.
a. Sagittal planes are vertical planes that pass through the body from front to
back. The median or midsagittal plane is the vertical plane that divides the body into
right and left halves.
b. Horizontal (transverse) planes are parallel to the floor. They are
perpendicular to both the sagittal and frontal planes.
c. Frontal (coronal) planes are vertical planes which pass through the body from
side to side. They are perpendicular to the sagittal plane.
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