Base-Line Healing logo. Stick figure with arms outstretched above shoulder height, legs apart. Rainbow of colours up midline. Red at pelvic floor Base then a line of orange, yellow, green blue extending to the head. Showing the body aligned and balanced, the natural way to treat fibromyalgia. Use your body better slogan.

Anatomy of Alignment:

Five Midline Markers.

Find the following 5 midline markers on your body. Touch them. Feel for where they are in relation to each other.

Can you position yourself so these 5 markers are in a straight line?

the anatomy of alignment. human figure from the front with 5 markers on the midline line through the middle, top to bottom, splitting the body into equal left and right halves. The 5 markers are part of our midline anatomy that should align on the median plane. from bottom to top: 1. The pubic symphysis between the top of the legs. 2. The navel/belly button. 3 and 4. The bottom and top of the sternum midline where the ribs meet at the front. 5. The back of the head, midline bump.

Note: Markers 1, 2 and 3 (the pubic symphysis, navel and xiphoid process) are connected by the linea alba.

human figure seen from the front. The linea alba is highlighted, running up the front of the abdomen from pubic symphysis of the pelvis to xiphoid process of the sternum, with the navel located between these points.

1. Pubic Symphysis Of The Pelvis.

pubic symphysis where the pubic ligaments are located. At the front of the pelvis, the bony bit between the legs.

The pubic symphysis is where the left and right pubic bones meet midline at the front of the pelvis. The pubic bones are joined by the pubic ligaments.

The pubic symphysis is where the clitoris / suspensory ligament of the penis is located.

the bones of the pelvis, sacrum and coccyx seen from the front. The pubic symphysis is where the pubic bones meet on our midline.

The pubic symphysis is the central point between your Base-Line muscles:

  • pelvic floor 'Base'
  • rectus abdominis 'Line'.

Base-Line muscles

human outside seen from side view. Showing the pelvic floor and rectus abdominis muscles. The pelvic floor at the base of the body, like a basket of muscles. The rectus abdominis like a ribbon up the front of the abdomen from pelvis to chest, the body's central line. The pubic ligaments of the pubic symphysis are located between base and line.

The linea alba extends from the pubic symphysis up the front of the abdomen, between the rectus abdominis muscles.

2. Navel.    

The human body seen from the front showing the navel, or belly button lies. Midline. In the middle of the body. Part of the linea alba (white line) a strip of connective tissue from pubic symphysis of the pelvis to xiphoid process of the sternum. The navel should align with the sternum and pubic symphysis where the linea alba is a straight line.

The navel (belly button) is in the middle of the linea alba.

3. Xiphoid Process Of The Sternum.

The xiphoid (zif-oi-d) process is at the bottom the sternum (breastbone).

front view of the thorax showing the ribs and sternum. The xiphoid process of the sternum is highlighted, an inverted V where the bottom ribs meet at the front of the chest.

Feel for where your bottom ribs meet in an "Ʌ" at the front of your chest.

The top of the linea alba attaches to the xiphoid process of the sternum.

4. Jugular Notch Of The Sternum.

showing the chest and face, throat, top of rib-cage when the jugular notch of the sternum is located on the midline. A V shape in the bone at the base of the neck.

The jugular notch of the sternum is at the base of your neck, midline at the front.

Feel for the "V" of bone at the top of your sternum (breastbone).

The sternum is a long, flat bone on the body's midline joining the xiphoid process and the jugular notch.

5. External Occipital Protuberance.

At the base of the skull, midline at the back of the head, there is a bony bump known as the external occipital protuberance.

Place your hands on your ears and extend your fingers to the back of your skull to find the external occipital protuberance.

Think of this bump as the top of your midline.

The occipital protuberance, the bump on the back of the skull on the median plane/midline

The nuchal ligament attaches to the skull at the external occipital protuberance.

nuchal ligament

Increased Awareness Of Your Midline.

Imagine these 5 midline markers as part of a thread that runs up and down the middle of the body. The thread should be free to fully extend from pubic symphysis to external occipital protuberance (from bottom to top).

The body can provide a lot of sensory information about its positioning and state of alignment and balance to help you work towards alignment and feeling how to heal.

midline sensory information

The correct alignment of your midline anatomy, including these 5 midline markers, creates the median plane, where the left and right sides of the body are balanced.

the median plane body alignment and balance

Alignment is possible when the body has a full range of natural movement.

full range of natural movement

baseline healing logo. A figure that is balanced either side of midline.

Back To Top