Introduction to Anatomy: Body Cavities, Directions, Regions, and Quadrants

Vocabulary flashcards generated from introductory anatomy slides covering serous fluid, directional terms, body cavities, abdominopelvic quadrants, and abdominopelvic regions.

Serous fluid

A fluid that lubricates the space between membranes.

Abdominopelvic Quadrants

The four grid divisions of the abdomen consisting of the Right upper quadrant (RUQ), Left upper quadrant (LUQ), Right lower quadrant (RLQ), and Left lower quadrant (LLQ).

Abdominopelvic Regions

Nine regions delineated by four planes: Right hypochondriac region, Epigastric region, Left hypochondriac region, Right lumbar region, Umbilical region, Left lumbar region, Right iliac (inguinal) region, Hypogastric (pubic) region, and Left iliac (inguinal) region.

Directions of the body

Standard anatomical terminology describing the relative position of body structures, including superior, inferior, anterior, posterior, medial, lateral, proximal, and distal.

Superior

Anatomical direction toward the head or upper structure of the body.

Inferior

Anatomical direction away from the head or toward the lower structure of the body.

Anterior

Anatomical direction toward the front of the body.

Posterior

Anatomical direction toward the back of the body.

Medial

Anatomical direction toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Anatomical direction away from the midline of the body.

Proximal

Anatomical direction closer to the origin of a body part or point of attachment.

Distal

Anatomical direction farther from the origin of a body part or point of attachment.

Body Cavities

Internal fluid-filled spaces that enclose and protect organs, divided into the dorsal body cavity and ventral body cavity.

Dorsal body cavity

Posterior body cavity containing the cranial cavity and the vertebral cavity.

Cranial cavity

Sub-cavity of the dorsal body cavity that contains the brain.

Vertebral cavity

Sub-cavity of the dorsal body cavity that contains the spinal cord.

Ventral body cavity

Anterior body cavity containing the thoracic cavity and the abdominopelvic cavity.

Thoracic cavity

Sub-cavity of the ventral cavity containing the heart and lungs; includes the superior mediastinum, pleural cavity, and pericardial cavity within the mediastinum.

Abdominal cavity

Upper division of the abdominopelvic cavity that contains digestive viscera.

Pelvic cavity

Lower division of the abdominopelvic cavity that contains the urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum.