Anatomical Position

Frontal/Coronal Plane

Vertical: splits body into anterior & posterior halves

Sagittal/Median Plane

Vertical: splits body into left & right halves

Transverse/Horizontal Plane

• Splits body into superior & inferior halves

• Cross section

Oblique Plane

Result of cuts at an angle other than 90 to vertical plane

Superior/Inferior

Superior/cephalic/cranial: Upper part of structure

Inferior/caudal: Lower part of structure

Anterior/Posterior

Anterior/ventral: Nearer to front of body

Posterior/dorsal: Nearer to back of body

Medial/Lateral

Medial: Nearer to midline

Lateral: Farther from midline

Intermediate

Between 2 Structures

Ipsilateral

On the same side as another structure

Contralateral

On opposite side of another structure

Proximal/Distal

Proximal: Nearer to point of origin

Distal: Farther from point of origin

Superficial/Deep

Superficial: Toward the surface

Deep: Away from the surface

Axial/Appendicular

Axial: Head, neck, trunk

Appendicular: Limbs

2 Major Body Cavities

• Dorsal cavity

• Ventral cavity

Cranial Cavity

• Cranial bones

  • Contains brain

Vertebral Cavity

• Vertebral column

• Spinal cord

Thoracic Cavity

• The chest cavity

• Pleural Cavity

• Pericardial Cavity

• Mediastinum

Abdominopelvic Cavity

• Abdominal Cavity: Stomach, spleen, liver, gallbladder, SI, LI, peritoneum membrane

• Pelvic Cavity: Urinary bladder, LI, Reproductive organs

Ventral Cavity Membranes

• Serosa

• Pericardium

Serosa (Serous Membrane)

• Ventral cavity

• double-layered membrane

• Serous fluid

• Parietal serosa: cavity walls

• Visceral serosa: organs

Minor Body Cavities

• Oral/Digestive cavity

• Nasal cavities

• Orbital cavities

• Middle ear cavities

• Synovial cavities