anatomical planes, region and terminology

what are 3 main planes and explain

• axial / transverse - divides top and bottom (horizontal)

• frontal / coronal - divides body front to back

• sagittal - divides into left and right - straight down the middle of the body

• mid sagittal plane (MSP) = exactly divides into left and right

what are the directional terminology

• anterior posterior (front) / AP

• posterior anterior (back)

• higher than or above / up = superior

• lower than or below / down = inferior

• cranial (up) / caudal (down) = same meaning

• lateral = further away from the middle , can be left and right

• for limbs = proximal = closer to , distal = further away

• medial = closer to MSP

• sagittal = further away from MSP

what is a body cavity and give 3

• spaces in the body where organs and systems are found, some protect organs and are separated by bones , muscles or other structures

• pleural cavity = lungs

• pericardial cavity = heart and connective tissues surrounding it

• mediastinum = middle of the chest

what cavity is for the abdomen and how are they divided

• abdominal cavity (+pelvic cavity = pelvis)

• divided into quadrants vertically by the MSP and horizontally by the transumbilical line

• 1. Right upper quadrant

• 2. Left upper

• 3. Right lower

• 4. Left lower

• Not soft tissue landmarks but bones

what are the 9 abdominopelvic regions and how are they divided

• divided vertically by the 2 midclavicular lines - down the middle of both clavicles

• horizontally by the subcostal line and transtubercular line

• 1. right hypochondriac

• 2. epigastric

• 3. left hypochondriac

• 4. right lumbar

• 5. umbilical

• 6. left lumbar

• 7. right inguinal

• 8. hypogastric

• 9. left inguinal

what does hypo and epi mean