Anatomical Orientation

Terms that specify anatomical orientation. The orientation value set is part of BodyLocation, a flexible structure that allows the location to be determined by a single code, or a code plus laterality and/or orientation. The body location can also be specified in relation to one or more body landmarks. SNOMED CT is used in all cases.

  • Code only: The code should include (precoordinate) laterality and/orientation to the degree necessary to completely specify the body location.
  • Code plus laterality and/or orientation: The basic code augmented by codes specifying the body side and/or anatomical orientation.
  • Relation to landmark: The location relative to a landmark is specified by:
  1. Establishing the location and type of landmark using a body site code and optional laterality/orientation, and
  2. Specifying the direction and distance from the landmark to the body location.

Note that BodyLocation is a data type (a reusable structure), not a stand-alone entity. The concept is similar to how a postal address can apply to a person, location, or organization. This contrasts with FHIR's stand-alone BodySite (aka BodyStructure in r4) which 'is not ... intended for describing the type of anatomical location but rather a specific body site on a specific patient' (FHIR 3.5).

This value set includes codes from the following code systems:

 <status value="draft" /> <experimental value="false" /> <date value="2019-12-20T18:15:04+00:00" /> <publisher value="Global Alliance for Genomics and Health" /> <contact> <telecom> <system value="url" /> <value value="http://ga4gh.org" /> </telecom> </contact> <description value="Terms that specify anatomical orientation. The orientation value set is part of BodyLocation, a flexible structure that allows the location to be determined by a single code, or a code plus laterality and/or orientation. The body location can also be specified in relation to one or more body landmarks. SNOMED CT is used in all cases. * Code only: The code should include (precoordinate) laterality and/orientation to the degree necessary to completely specify the body location. * Code plus laterality and/or orientation: The basic code augmented by codes specifying the body side and/or anatomical orientation. * Relation to landmark: The location relative to a landmark is specified by: 1. Establishing the location and type of landmark using a body site code and optional laterality/orientation, and 2. Specifying the direction and distance from the landmark to the body location. Note that BodyLocation is a data type (a reusable structure), not a stand-alone entity. The concept is similar to how a postal address can apply to a person, location, or organization. This contrasts with FHIR's stand-alone BodySite (aka BodyStructure in r4) which 'is not ... intended for describing the type of anatomical location but rather a specific body site on a specific patient' (FHIR 3.5)." /> <compose> <include> <system value="http://snomed.info/sct" /> <filter> <property value="concept" /> <op value="is-a" /> <value value="272424004" /> </filter> </include> </compose> </ValueSet>