Connect Assignment - Body Orientation

Body Orientation

Body Orientation FINAL

Activity 1: Dissection

Module: Body Orientation

Topic: Body Position

View: Anterior, Supine, and Prone

Anterior

• Definition: Toward the front of the body; in front of.

• Example: The sternum (breastbone) is anterior to the heart.

• Memory Tip: Think “ant” → front — anterior means toward the front.

Posterior

• Term: Posterior

• Definition: Toward the back of the body; behind.

• Example: The spine is posterior to the lungs.

• Memory Tip: “Posterior” sounds like “posterior side” (backside) — it means toward the back.

Anatomical Position

Description:

• Reference position for anatomical description

• An individual in anatomical position is standing erect with arms at sides, palms facing forward with fingers pointing downward, feet parallel to each other and flat on the floor, and eyes directed forward

Prone

Description:

• Position of the body when lying face down

Comment:

• For forearm movement (in anatomical position), pronation directs palm posteriorly

• Opposite of supine

Supine

Description:

• Position of the body when lying face up

Comment:

• For forearm movement (in anatomical position), supination directs palm anteriorly

• Opposite of prone

Activity 2: Dissection

Module: Body Orientation

Topic: Planes of Section

View: Anterior and Anterior-Lateral

Coronal plane

Description:

• A vertical plane that passes parallel to the long axis of the body, dividing it into anterior and posterior portions

Also known as:

• Frontal plane

Median plane

Description:

• A vertical plane that passes parallel to the long axis of the body through the midline of the body, dividing it into equal right and left halves

Comment:

• Median plane is a specific example of a sagittal plane

Also known as:

• Midsagittal plane

Oblique plane

Description:

• A plane that passes through the body on an angle, and is not one of the standard anatomical planes

Sagittal plane

Description:

• A vertical plane that passes parallel to the long axis of the body, dividing it into right and left portions

Comment:

• Sometimes called parasagittal plane

• Median (midsagittal) plane passes through midline of body and divides it into equal right and left halves

Transverse plane

Description:

• A horizontal plane that passes perpendicular to the long axis of the body, dividing it into superior and inferior portions

Comment:

• Also called horizontal plane or cross-section

• Transverse planes can also be named for specific landmarks that they pass through, e.g. subcostal plane, transumbilical plane, and intertubercular plane

Activity 3: Dissection

Module: Body Orientation

Topic: Planes of Section

View: Anterior-Lateral

Coronal plane

Description:

• A vertical plane that passes parallel to the long axis of the body, dividing it into anterior and posterior portions

Also known as:

• Frontal plane

Median plane

Description:

• A vertical plane that passes parallel to the long axis of the body through the midline of the body, dividing it into equal right and left halves

Comment:

• Median plane is a specific example of a sagittal plane

Also known as:

• Midsagittal plane

Transverse plane

Description:

• A horizontal plane that passes perpendicular to the long axis of the body, dividing it into superior and inferior portions

Comment:

• Also called horizontal plane or cross-section

• Transverse planes can also be named for specific landmarks that they pass through, e.g. subcostal plane, transumbilical plane, and intertubercular plane

Anterior

Description:

• Toward the front of the body (e.g., the sternum is anterior to the heart)

• Opposite of posterior

Comment:

• Ventral, sometimes used synonymously with anterior, relates to the belly

Activity 4: Dissection

Module: Body Orientation

Topic: Directional Terms

View: Anterior, Lateral, and Midsagittal

Deep

Description:

• Away from the surface of the body or organ (e.g., Bones are deep to skin and skeletal muscles)

• Opposite of superficial

Distal

Description:

• Farther from trunk or origin of a structure (e.g., the wrist is distal to the elbow)

• Opposite of proximal

Inferior

Description:

• Downward or below (e.g., the diaphragm is inferior to the heart)

• Opposite of superior

Comment:

• In humans, synonymous with caudal (toward the tail)

Lateral

Description:

• Away from the midline of the body (e.g., the lungs are lateral to the heart)

• Opposite of medial

Medial

Description:

• Toward the midline of the body (e.g., the heart is medial to the lungs)

• Opposite of lateral

Posterior

Description:

• Toward the back of the body or relating to the back (e.g., the heart is posterior to the sternum)

• Opposite of anterior

Comment:

• Dorsal, sometimes used synonymously with posterior, relates to the back (L. dorsum = back of the body)

Proximal

Description:

• Closer to trunk or origin of a structure (e.g., the elbow is proximal to the wrist)

• Opposite of distal

Superficial

Description:

• Toward the surface of the body or organ (e.g., Skin is superficial to muscles)

• Opposite of deep

Superior

Description:

• Upward or above (e.g., the heart is superior to the diaphragm)

• Opposite of inferior

Comment:

• Cranial, sometimes used synonymously with superior, relates to the head (L. cranium = head of the body)

Activity 5: Dissection

Module: Body Orientation

Topic: Body Cavities

View: Anterior and Lateral

Abdominal cavity

Location:

• Abdominal region

Description:

• Bounded by abdominal walls, thoracic diaphragm (superior), and pelvic brim (inferior)

• Major organs include: stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, kidneys and ureters, suprarenal glands, aorta, inferior vena cava, and lumbar nerve plexus

Comment:

• Inferior part of abdominal cavity is the greater (or false) pelvis (i.e., between iliac fossae, superior to pelvic inlet)

• Abdominal and pelvic cavities combine to form a continuous abdominopelvic cavity

Abdominopelvic cavity

Location:

• Trunk, between thoracic and pelvic diaphragms

Description:

• Continuous cavity formed by abdominal and pelvic cavities

• Major abdominal organs include: stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, kidneys and ureters, suprarenal glands, aorta, inferior vena cava, and lumbar nerve plexus

• Major pelvic organs include: urinary bladder, loops of small intestine, inferior part of sigmoid colon, rectum, and reproductive organs (ovaries, uterus, vagina in female; prostate and seminal glands in male)

Cranial cavity

Location:

• Skull

Description:

• Space in skull that contains brain, meninges, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

• Formed by frontal, occipital, sphenoid, ethmoid bones, parietal, and temporal bones

Diaphragm

Action:

• Dome of diaphragm flattens during inspiration

• Contraction increases vertical dimension of thoracic cavity

Origin:

• Sternal part (not always present): xiphoid process

• Costal part: ribs 5-10 and their costal cartilages

• Lumbar part: arcuate ligaments and L1-3 vertebral bodies

Insertion:

• Central tendon

Innervation:

• Phrenic nerve

Comment:

• Primary muscle of respiration

• Contraction (flattening) decreases intrathoracic pressure and increases intra-abdominal pressure

Dorsal cavity

Location:

• Skull

• Vertebral column

Description:

• Composed of two cavities - cranial cavity and vertebral canal

• Cranial cavity enclosed within skull and vertebral canal enclosed by vertebrae

Comment:

• Also known as posterior aspec

Mediastinum

Location:

• Thoracic cavity

Description:

• Middle region of thorax

• Lies between sternum and thoracic vertebral bodies

• Separates right and left pulmonary cavities

• Divided into superior and inferior parts

• Inferior mediastinum subdivided into middle, posterior, and anterior parts

Comment:

• Superior mediastinum includes: great vessels, thymus (remnant in adult), thoracic duct, and parts of trachea and esophagus

• Middle mediastinum includes: heart, pericardium, and roots of great vessels

• Posterior mediastinum contains: thoracic aorta, esophagus, and thoracic duct

• Anterior mediastinum contains: loose connective tissue (may include thymic remnant in adult)

• Thoracic cavity divided into three parts: mediastinum and right and left pulmonary cavities

• Latin: mediastinum = middle septum

Pelvic cavity

Location:

• Pelvic region

Description:

• Bounded by pelvic inlet (superiorly) and pelvic outlet (inferiorly)

• Major organs include: urinary bladder, loops of small intestine, inferior part of sigmoid colon, rectum, and reproductive organs (ovaries, uterus, vagina in female; prostate and seminal glands in male)

• Continuous superiorly with abdominal cavity

Also known as:

• Lesser (or true) pelvis

Pulmonary cavity

Location:

• Thorax

Description:

• Bilateral subdivision of thoracic cavity (separated by mediastinum)

• Contain lungs and pleurae

• Lined by parietal pleura

Comment:

• Thoracic cavity has three subdivisions: a central mediastinum (contains heart and thoracic parts of great vessels, trachea, esophagus, and thymus) and bilateral pulmonary cavities (contains lungs and pleurae)

Thoracic cavity

Location:

• Thorax

Description:

• Cavity of the chest

• Bounded by sternum, ribs and costal cartilages, intercostal muscles, thoracic vertebrae, and diaphragm

• Three subdivisions: a central mediastinum (contains heart and thoracic parts of great vessels, trachea, esophagus, and thymus) and bilateral pulmonary cavities (contains lungs and plurae)

Ventral cavity

Location:

• Trunk

Description:

• Composed of two large cavities - thoracic and abdominopelvic

• Diaphragm separates these two cavities

• Both cavities lined by serous membranes

Vertebral canal

Location:

• Vertebral column

Description:

• Canal formed by combined vertebral foramina

Comment:

• Contains spinal cord, meninges, spinal nerve roots, blood vessels, and fat