Body Cavities, Directional Terms, and Planes

Dorsal Body Cavity

Protects the fragile nervous system; subdivided into cranial and spinal cavities.

Ventral Body Cavity

Houses internal organs (viscera); subdivided into thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Thoracic Cavity

Contains the heart and lungs; enclosed by the ribs and chest muscles.

Abdominopelvic Cavity

Contains the digestive, urinary, and reproductive organs.

Superior (Cranial)

Toward the head end or upper part of a structure; above.

Inferior (Caudal)

Away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure; below.

Anterior (Ventral)

Toward or at the front of the body; in front of.

Posterior (Dorsal)

Toward or at the back of the body; behind.

Medial

Toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body; on the outer side.

Proximal

Closer to the origin of a body part or point of attachment.

Distal

Farther from the origin of a body part or point of attachment.

Sagittal Plane

A vertical plane that divides the body into right and left parts.

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

A vertical plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior parts.

Transverse (Horizontal) Plane

A horizontal plane that divides the body into superior and inferior parts.

Cephalic (Cranial)

Head region

Nasal

Nose region

Frontal

Forehead region

Buccal

Cheek region

Mental

Chin region

Cervical

Neck region

Thoracic

Chest region

Sternal

Breastbone region

Axillary

Armpit region

Abdominal

Abdomen region

Umbilical

Belly button region

Acromial

Point of shoulder

Deltoid

Curve of shoulder

Brachial

Arm region

Antebrachial

Forearm region

Carpal

Wrist region

Manus

Hand region

Pollex

Thumb

Inguinal

Groin region

Pubic

Genital region

Femoral

Thigh region

Patellar

Front of knee region

Crural

Leg (shin) region

Tarsal

Ankle region

Pedal

Foot region

Phalanges

Toes or fingers

Hallux

Great toe (big toe)

Occipital

Back of head region

Nuchal

Back of neck region

Scapular

Shoulder blade region

Vertebral

Spinal column region

Olecranon

Back of elbow

Lumbar

Lower back region

Sacral

Region between hips (tailbone area)

Gluteal

Buttock region

Popliteal

Back of knee region

Sural

Calf of leg region

Calcaneal

Heel of foot region

Plantar

Sole of foot