Body directions, planes, and cavities

chapter 1: organization of the human body

anatomic position

palms forward, standing erect

all descriptions assume body is in…

superior

higher up

inferior

lower down

anterior

front

ventral

front

posterior

back

dorsal

back

dorsal (1)

top of foot (1)

ventral (1)

palms

medial

nearest midline

lateral

sides

proximal

limbs only

nearer to origin of a structure

closer to body

distal

limbs only

farther from origin of structure/body

‘distant’

supine

ventral side up

lay on back

prone

ventral side down

lay on belly

shooter’s position

prone

gluteus maximus

butt

frontal plane

divides the body into anterior and posterior parts

coronal plane

frontal plane

divides body into anterior and posterior parts

sagittal plane

divides the body into lateral parts

transverse plane

divides body into superior and inferior parts

horizontal plane

transverse plane

divides body into superior and inferior parts

dorsal cavity

cranial cavity - brain

spinal cavity - cord

ventral cavity

thoracic cavity

abdominopelvic cavity

thoracic cavity

chest

pleural (lungs), pericardial (heart), mediastinum (trachea/windpipe)

abdominopelvic cavity

abdominal (liver, stomach) + pelvic (reproductive organs, bladder)

separated by diaphragm (respiratory muscle)

right hypochondriac region

1

rib cartilage

epigastric region

2

over stomach

left hypochondriac region

3

rib cartilage

right lumbar region

4

love handles

umbilical region

5

belly button

left lumbar region

6

love handles

right iliac (inguinal) region

7

groin

hypogastric region

8

below stomach

left iliac (inguinal) region

9

groin

cranial

refers to head/skull/brain

cervical

refers to neck

pectoral

refers to pecs

axillary

refers to armpits

brachial

refers to arm

antebrachial

refers to forearm

carpal

refers to wrist

patellar

refers to knee

tarsal

refers to ankle

inguinial

refers to groin

vertebral

refers to spine

lumbar

refers to lower back? middle of love handles

popliteal

refers to posterior knee

plantar

refers to bottom surface of foot