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

above

superior

below

inferior

towards midline

medial

away from midline

lateral

towards the surface

superficial

towards the core

deep

to the front

anterior (ventral)

to the back

posterior (dorsal)

near the trunk

proximal

away from the trunk

distal

toward the head

cephalic

toward the tail

caudal

divides the body into anterior and posterior

frontal (coronal) plane

cutting top and bottom in half

transverse (horizontal) plane

cutting the body into left and right halves

medial (midsagittal) plane

contains the heart, esophagus, and trachea

thoracic cavity

contains the lungs

pleural cavity

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

abdominal cavity

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

pelvic cavity

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

the four abdominal quadrants

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

the nine abdominal regions