Body Planes & Directions

Medial

Close to line

Lateral

Away from line

Superior

Above or close to head

Inferior

Below or close to feet

Anterior/Vertical

In front of

Posterior/Dorsal

Behind

Proximal

Close to origin

Distal

Far from origin

Torso

Point of origin in the human body

Plantar

Bottom of foot

Cephalic

Towards the head

Caudal

Towards tail

Internal

Inside body

Superficial

Towards the surface

Deep

Towards inside

Sagittal

Plane that divides body into left and right

Frontal

Divides body into front and back

Transverse

Plane that divides body into top and bottom

Universal or Anatomic Position

always refer to the patient’s right and the patient’s left 

abdomin/o

image of abdominal organs; relating to the abdomen

-al, -ar, -iac, -ic, -ior, -tic

Pertaining to

-blast

Carbon dioxide

-cyte

cell

-ectomy

surgical removal

-gen

substance that produces

-ism

process; condition

-osis

process; abnormal condition

-pathy

disease

-plasia

development; formation

carcin/o

cancer

chondr/o

cartilage

crani/o

skull

endo-

inside

epi-

on, over, upon

exo-

outward

hist/o

tissue

is/o

same, equal

kary/o

nucleus

thorac/o

chest

trans-

across

umbilic/o

umbilicus (belly button)

viscer/o

internal organs

erect

standing

fowler’s position

obtuse angle

Knees-chest

child’s pose

lateral

laying on side

prone

laying on anterior side, head facing left or right

sim’s position

flamingo pose

supine

laying on back

Body cavities 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5

1. Cranial

2. Middle ear

3. Orbital

4. Nasal

5. Oral

Body cavities 6, 7, 8, and 9 

6. Thoracic

7. Diaphragm

8. Abdominal

9. Abdominal Pelvic

Body cavities 10, 11, 12, and 13

10. Pelvic

11. Posterior(Dorsal)

12. Spinal

13. Anterior(ventral)

Abdominal Quadrants 1

1. Right Upper Quad(RUQ)

Abdominal Quadrants 2

2. Left Upper Quadrant(LUQ)

Abdominal Quadrants 3

3. Right Lower Quad(RLQ)

Abdominal Quadrants 4

4. Left Lower Quad(LLQ)

Abdominal Quadrants 5

5. Umbilicus(bellybutton)

Integumentary

composes of skin, hair, nails, and glands( release substances like hormones, sweat, tears, or digestive juices)

Skeletal

Supports body structure, connective tissues, protects organs

Muscular

maintains posture, circulates blood, and enables movement

Nervous

Senses, Movement, Responses

Endocrine

Growth, Metabolism

Respiratory

Takes in oxygen, inhales carbon dioxide, protects lungs from harmful waste in air

Cardiovascular

Transports oxygen and nutrients throughout the body

Lymphatic

Apart of the immune system, defends body from disease

Digestive

breaks down food and stores nutrients for energy.

Urinary

Filtering waste products from the blood and producing transporting and excreting urine

Reproductive(male and female)

Produces sperm or ovaries. fertilizes uterus to make fetus. Hormones: Testosterone and Estrogen. 

Regions 1, 2, and 3

1. Right Hypochondriac

2. Right Lumbar

3. Right iliac

Regions 4, 5, and 6

4. Left Hypochondriac

5. Left Lumbar

6. Left iliac

Regions 7, 8, and 9

7. Epigastric

8. Umbilical 

9. Hypogastric

Hypo-

below normal