Bio 180 - Moraine Valley - Chapter 1: Anatomical Planes and Terms, and Body Cavities

Anatomical Position

The standard anatomical reference; an erect body with hands at the side, palms forward, and feet together.

Body referred to in this position regardless of actual positioning.

Superficial Anatomy

Locating structures on or near the body surface.

Plane

An axis along the body. Three planes to describe the human body.

List the three planes that describe the human body:

Transverse (horizontal), Frontal (coronal), and Sagittal.

Tranverse (Horizontal) Plane

Runs horizontally from right to left, dividing the body into superior and inferior parts.

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

The vertical plane dividing the body or structure into anterior and posterior portions.

Sagittal Plane

Sagittal means arrow; a vertical plane that divides the body into right and left parts.

Section

A single view, or slice, along a plane; important in radiological imaging techniques such as MRI, CT, and PET.

Midsagittal Plane

Divides the body into equal left and right halves; also referred to as median

Parasagittal Plane

Divides body into unequal right and left sides; offset from the midline or midsagittal plane.

Directional Terms

Terms used to explain where one body structure is in relation to another.

Anterior

The front surface of the body; the side facing you in the standard anatomic position.

Ventral

At the belly side of the human body (equivalent to anterior in humans)

Posterior (Dorsal)

The back surface of the body; facing away from you in standard anatomical position.

Cranial (cephalic)

The head/at the head end of the body.

Superior

Above or at a higher level

Caudal

toward the tail (coccyx in humans); does not go below the coccyx.

Inferior

Below or at a lower level

Medial

Toward the midline of the body; toward the midsagittal axis.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body; away from the midsagittal plane.

Proximal

Toward an attached base; in proximity to an attached point.

Distal

Away from the point of attachment/an attached base.

Superficial

At, near, or relatively close to the body surface.

Deep

Farther away from the body surface; more internal.

Anatomical Regions

Divide certain areas of the body; designate certain areas within major body divisions.

Two fundamental divisions of anatomical regions

Axial; Appendicular

Axial

Relating to the main axis of the body (head, neck, and trunk).

Appendicular

Relating to limbs and their attachments to the axis.

Abdominal Anatomical Regions

Abdominopelvic regions; Abdominopelvic quadrants.

Abdominopelvic Quadrants

Right upper quadrant (RUQ); Left upper quadrant (LUQ); Right lower quadrant (RLQ), Left lower quadrant (LLQ).

Abdominopelvic Regions (9 regions)

Right hypochondriac; Epigastric: Left hypochondriac; Right lumbar; Umbilical; Left lumbar; Right inguinal; Hypogastric; Left inguinal

Organs in right hypochondriac region

Liver

Gallbladder

Two main cavities of the body (interior)

Thoracic; Abdominopelvic.

Both are further broken down into smaller cavities.

Thoracic Cavity

Structures deep to the chest wall

Abdominopelvic cavity

Structures deep to both the abdominal and pelvic walls.

Subdivisions of Thoracic cavity and organs

Right plural cavity (right lung); Mediastinum (Contains the Trachea, esophagus, major vessels, and the pericardial cavity, [surrounds the heart]); Left plural cavity (left lung).

Subdivisions of Abdominopelvic Cavity and organs

Peritoneal cavity, which includes both of the following: Abdominal cavity (contains many digestive organs and glands); Pelvic cavity (urinary bladder, reproductive organs, last portion of the digestive tract).