Lecture 1: Directional Terms, Body Planes, and Body Regions

What is the function of the Digestive system?

Breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and distributes them via blood.

What is the function of the Urinary system?

Excretes metabolic wastes and regulates fluid balance.

What is the Anatomical Position?

The standard reference position for the human body: erect, feet forward, arms at sides, palms facing anteriorly (up/forward).

What does Superior mean?

Toward the head or top of a structure.

What does Inferior mean?

Toward the feet or bottom of a structure.

What does Medial mean?

Toward the midline of the body.

What does Lateral mean?

Away from the midline of the body.

What does Proximal mean?

Nearer the point of attachment or the body trunk.

What does Distal mean?

Farther from the body trunk or point of attachment.

What does Anterior (Ventral) mean?

Front of the body.

What does Posterior (Dorsal) mean?

Back of the body.

What does Superficial mean?

Toward or at the body surface.

What does Deep mean?

Away from the body surface; internal.

What is the Sagittal Plane?

A vertical cut dividing the body into right and left halves.

What is the Transverse (Horizontal) Plane?

A cross-section dividing the body into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) parts.

What is the Frontal (Coronal) Plane?

A vertical cut dividing the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts.

What is the Axial skeleton?

Comprises the skull, vertebral column, and rib cage—the core of the body.

What is the Appendicular skeleton?

Comprises the limbs and girdles (appendages).

What is the Dorsal cavity?

Includes the Cranial cavity (houses brain) and Vertebral canal (spinal cord).

What is the Ventral cavity?

The larger, anterior cavity, including the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

What is the Thoracic cavity?

Houses the lungs (in pleural cavities) and heart/major vessels (in mediastinum).

What is the Diaphragm?

A large dome-shaped muscle that separates the thoracic from the abdominopelvic cavity; rises and falls with breathing.

What is the Abdominal cavity?

Upper part of the abdominopelvic cavity (stomach, liver, intestines, etc.).

What is the Pelvic cavity?

Lower part of the abdominopelvic cavity (bladder, reproductive organs, rectum).

What does RUQ stand for?

Right Upper Quadrant of the abdomen.

What does RLQ stand for?

Right Lower Quadrant of the abdomen.

What does LUQ stand for?

Left Upper Quadrant of the abdomen.

What does LLQ stand for?

Left Lower Quadrant of the abdomen.

What is the Epigastric region?

The central upper region of the nine-region abdominopelvic system; common site of heartburn.

What is the Umbilical region?

The central region surrounding the navel.

What is the Hypogastric (pubic) region?

The central lower (pubic) region of the nine-region abdominopelvic system.

Where are the Right/Left Hypochondriac regions located?

Upper regions on either side, under the costal cartilages.

Where are the Right/Left Lumbar regions located?

Middle regions on either side, lateral to the lumbar spine.

Where are the Right/Left Iliac (Inguinal) regions located?

Lower regions on either side, near the iliac crests of the pelvis.