Anatomical Cavities, Directional Terms, and Planes

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing human body cavities, directional terms, imaging concepts, and anatomical planes based on lecture materials.

Body cavity

A hole or space in the body that contains internal organs.

Dorsal cavity

One continuous space formed by the skull superiorly and the vertebrae inferiorly.

Cranial cavity

A body cavity formed by bones of the skull that houses the brain.

Vertebral (spinal) canal (cavity)

A cavity that houses the spinal cord and is formed by successive vertebrae of the articulated skeleton.

Ventral cavity

The largest body cavity, ventrally located relative to the vertebral column.

Thoracic cavity

A subdivision of the ventral cavity enclosed by the rib cage, sternum, and thoracic vertebrae, and separated from the abdominopelvic cavity by the diaphragm.

Pleural cavity

A cavity that surrounds each lung and contains a small amount of lubricating serous fluid.

Serous fluid

Small amount of lubricating fluid in the pleural cavity that allows surfaces lining the cavity to easily glide against each other during inhalation and exhalation.

Pericardial cavity

A space containing lubricating fluid between a double-walled membrane surrounding the heart.

Parietal pericardium

The outer wall of the double-walled membrane surrounding the heart.

Visceral pericardium

The inner wall of the double-walled membrane surrounding the heart.

Mediastinum

The central region of the thoracic cavity through which structures such as the heart, esophagus, and aorta pass or are located.

Abdominopelvic cavity

A large cavity extending from the diaphragm to the pelvic floor, bounded by abdominal and lower back muscles.

Pelvic brim

A bony fringe that serves as the anatomical landmark dividing the abdominopelvic cavity, which is oval in females and heart-shaped in males.

Abdominal cavity

A cavity separated from the thoracic cavity by the diaphragm and extending inferiorly to the pelvic brim.

Pelvic cavity

A cavity extending from the pelvic brim to the pelvic floor that is much smaller than the abdominal cavity.

Superior (Cephalic)

Directional term meaning toward the head or upper part of the body or structure.

Inferior (Caudal)

Directional term meaning toward the feet or lower part of the body or structure.

Anterior (Ventral)

Directional term meaning toward the front of the body.

Posterior (Dorsal)

Directional term meaning toward the back of the body.

Medial

Directional term meaning toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Directional term meaning away from the midline of the body.

Proximal

Directional term meaning nearer to the point of attachment when referring to a limb or origin when referring to an organ.

Distal

Directional term meaning farther from the point of attachment when referring to a limb or origin when referring to an organ.

Superficial

Directional term meaning closer to the surface of the body.

Deep

Directional term meaning farther from the surface of the body.

Plane

An imaginary flat surface that separates the body into two parts.

Section

A separate piece resulting from cutting along a plane, named according to which plane was cut.

Radiographs (X-rays)

Rays of electromagnetic radiation passing through one side of the body to a detector on the opposite side to generate shadow images of internal structures.

Sagittal plane

An anatomical plane that separates the body into left and right sides.

Midsagittal plane (median)

An anatomical plane located along the exact midline that separates the body into left and right sides of equal size.

Parasagittal plane

An anatomical plane located on either side of the midsagittal plane that separates the body into left and right sides of unequal size.

Transverse plane

An anatomical plane (also named axial in medical imaging) that separates the body into top and bottom portions.

Frontal (coronal) plane

An anatomical plane that separates the body into a front portion and a back portion.