Chapter 2 Med Terms Whole Body

abdominal cavity

space below the chest containing organs such as the liver, stomach, gallbladder, and intestines

cranial cavity

space in the head containing the brain and surrounded by by the skull

diaphragm

muscle separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities.

dorsal (posterior)

pertaining to the back

mediastinum

centrally located space outside of and between the lungs

pelvic cavity

space below the abdomen containing portions of the intestines, rectum, urinary bladder, and reproductive organs

peritoneum

double-folded membrane surrounding the abdominal cavity

pleura

double-folded membrane surrounding each lung

pleural cavity

space between the pleural layers

spinal cavity

space between the spinal column containing the spinal cord

thoracic cavity

space in the chest containing the heart, lungs, bronchial tubes, trachea, esophagus, and other organs

ventral (anterior)

pertaining to the front

cervical

neck region

thoracic

chest region

lumbar

loin or flank region

sacral

five bones are fused to form one bone

coccygeal

the coccyx is a small bone composed of four fused pieces

anterior (ventral)

front side of the body

posterior (dorsal)

back side of the body

deep

away from the surface

sueprficial

on the surface

proximal

near the point of attachment to the trunk or near the beginning of a structure

distal

far from the point of attachment to the trunk or near the beginning of a structure

inferior

below another structure

superior

above another structure

medial

pertaining to the middle, or nearer the medial plane of the body

lateral

pertaining to the side

supine

lying on the back

prone

lying on the belly

frontal (coronal) plane

vertical plane dividing the body into anterior and posterior sections.

sagital (lateral) plane

lengthwise plane dividing the body into right and left sides

transverse

horizontal plane running across the body parallel to the ground

anatomical position

standard reference position of the body, standing with arms at the side and palms turned forward, with head and feet pointing forward

dorsum

back or posterior surface of a part, in the foot it is the top of the foot

fowler’s

supine position with head higher than the feet approximately 45-60 degrees

mediolateral

going from the midline of a structure to the side of a structure

midline of the body

imaginary line created when the body is divided into equal right and left halves

midsagittal plane

plane the at divides the body into right and left equal portiona

semi fowlers

supine position with head higher than feet approximately 30 degrees

sims

recumbent position with the patient lying on the left anterior side with the leg extended and the right knee and thigh partially flexed

trandelenburg

supine position with the head tilted downward

lateromedial

going from the side of a structure towards the midline of the structure

lithotomy

a supine position with the knees and hip flexed and thighs abducted and rotated externally, supported by ankle supports

longitudinal plane

divides the body into right and left segments

plantar

pertaining to the sole or bottom of the foot

decubitus

the patient is lying down and that the central ray is horizontal and parallel with the floor

oblique

rotating the entire body or body part so that the coronal plane is not parallel with the IR

recumbent

general term referring to lying down in any position

coronal plane

divides the body into anterior and posterior segments