Lab Exercise 1 : Directional Terms, Planes, and Body Cavities

superior

above

inferior

below

medial

towards midline

lateral

away from midline

superficial

towards the surface

deep

towards the core

anterior (ventral)

to the front

posterior (dorsal)

to the back

proximal

near the trunk

distal

away from the trunk

cephalic

toward the head

caudal

toward the tail

frontal (coronal) plane

divides the body into anterior and posterior

transverse (horizontal) plane

cutting top and bottom in half

medial (midsagittal) plane

cutting the body into left and right halves

thoracic cavity

contains the heart, esophagus, and trachea

pleural cavity

contains the lungs bdomina

abdominal cavity

contains the stomach, small and large intestines, liver, and pancreas

pelvic cavity

contains the end part of the large intestine, reproductive organs, and urinary organs

the four abdominal quadrants

right upper quadrant (RUQ), left upper quadrant (LUQ), right lower quadrant (RLQ), and left lower quadrant (LLQ)

the nine abdominal regions

right hypochondriac region, epigastric region, left hypochondriac region, right lumbar region, umbilical region, left lumbar region, right inguinal region, hypogastric region, left inguinal region