Indications for Body Quadrants

Indications for Body Quadrants
Submitted by DNB Staff - September 7, 2000

We have been discussing how to indicate the sections of the body depicted in 1a) below.

The drawing shows the body divided into four areas: the right upper, left upper, right lower, and left lower quadrants.

In the drawing, the vertical dashed line that divides the right and left sides of the body passes through the head, which makes it look like only the right side of the head moves in right upper quadrant movements, and only the left side moves in left upper quadrant movements. 

However, since this isn't possible, the whole head is included in a movement of either upper quadrant. Similarly, a movement of a lower quadrant includes the whole pelvis.

Presently there are no established indications for such body quadrants. Using the sign for the body-as-a-whole (1b), we have devised three sets of symbols for them (2a-n, 3a-k, 4a-k).

For the preceding signs, the waistline divides the upper and lower body (see 1a). In other words, the upper body consists of the body parts above the waist, and lower body consists of the body parts below the waist. A different dividing line could be indicated by adding body part signs to a body quadrant sign. For instance, in 5a the hip signs are added to show that the upper body includes the whole torso, the arms, and the head. The sign in 5b indicates a body area that includes the right shoulder section (the right upper chest), the head, and the right arm.