Anatomical Position, Body Cavities, and Serous Membranes Overview

Supine

lying face upward

Prone

lying face downward

Superior

means above

Inferior

means below

Anterior or Ventral

front of the body or organ

Longitudinal section

horizontal cut

Transverse section

vertical cut

Oblique section

diagonal cut

Cavities

fluid filled spaces that contains internal organs providing protection

Dorsal Body Cavity

nervous system, brain, and spinal cord.

Posterior or Dorsal

back of the body or organ

Cranial Cavity

houses the brain

Vertebral Canal

houses the spinal cord

Meninges

membranes that covers the brain and spinal cord

Ventral Body Cavity

houses the vast majority of internal organs (viscera)

Thoracic Cavity

superior to the abdominopelvic cavity and houses the heart and lungs.

Pleural Cavities

encloses a lung, surrounded by ribs

Proximal

close to

Distal

far from

Medial

toward the midline

Lateral

away from the midline

Superficial

toward the surface of the body

Deep

toward the interior (internal)

Mediastinum

houses the heart and major blood vessels

Abdominopelvic Cavity

enclosed by abdominal muscles

Thorax

chest cavity where the heart and lungs are located

Abdominal Cavity

inferior; contains organs such as stomach, liver, and intestines

Pelvis

contains the bladder and digestive organs; housed within the peritoneal cavity

Pelvic Cavity

below the pelvis; reproductive organs

Arm

from shoulder to elbow

Forearm

from elbow to wrist

Lower Limb

thigh (hip to knee), leg (knee to ankle), ankle, and foot

Planes

imaginary flat surface; it divides or sections the body making it possible to look inside

Frontal / Coronal Plane

divides body into anterior and posterior

Median / Mid-sagittal Plane

passes through the midline of the body that divide into equal right and left halves

Sagittal Plane

it means flight of an arrow; parallel to median plane and separates the body into unequal right and left halves

Axial Plane (Transverse, Transaxial)

parallel, dividing body into superior and inferior

Serous Membranes

walls of the body cavities and surface of internal organs in contact with membranes

Parietal Serous Membranes

layer that lines the walls of the cavities

Visceral Serous Membrane

layer covering the internal organs

Pericardial Cavity

contains the heart and housed in the mediastinum

Parietal Pericardium

parietal serous membrane (outer layer)

Visceral Pericardium

visceral serous membrane (inner layer)

Pericardial Fluid

fluid in the pericardial cavity

Pericarditis

inflammation of pericardium

Pleural Fluid

fluid in the pleural cavity

Pleurisy

inflammation of pleura

Peritoneal Cavity

houses many internal/abdominal organs

Parietal Peritoneum

parietal serous membrane (outer layer)

Visceral Peritoneum

visceral serous membrane (inner layer)

Peritoneal Fluid

fluid in the peritoneal cavity

Mesenteries

double folded visceral peritoneum; attaches the digestive organs to posterior abdominopelvic cavity wall; pathways for nerves and blood vessels to digestive organs

Peritonitis

inflammation of peritoneum