Organization of the Human Body

Gross Anatomy

Body structures visible to the naked eye

Micro Anatomy

Body Structures visible under the microscope

Anatomical Position

• Body erect (standing upright)

• Feet slightly apart

• Head and toes forwards

• Arms at sides

• Palm facing forward

Medial and Lateral

Medial means closer to the middle or center line of the body, while Lateral means farther away from the middle line toward the side

Supine

Lying face up

Prone

Lying face down

Axial

Relating to the head, neck, and trunk

Appendicular

Relating to the limbs and their attachment to the trunk

Anterior Body Landmarks

Cephalic, Cranial, Frontal, Ocular/orbital, Nasa, Otic, Buccal, Oral, Mental, Facial, Cervical, Thoracic, Mammary, Abdominal, Umbilical, Axillary, Brachial, Antecubital, Antebrachial , Carpal, Palmar , Manual, Pollex , Femora, Patellar, Crural , Tarsal , Pedal , Hallux , Inguinal , Pubic , Digits

Posterior Body Landmarks

Cephalic, Acromial, Olecranal, Dorsal, Lumbar, Gluteal, Popliteal, Sural, Calcaneal, Plantar

Superior

Above/toward head

Inferior

Below/toward feet

Anterior

Front

Posterior

Back

Medial

Toward midline

Lateral

Away from midline

Cranial

Toward the head

Caudal

Toward the tail

Dorsal

Backside

Ventral

Belly/front side

Proximal

Nearer trunk

Distal

Farther from trunk

Superficial

At/toward body surface

Deep

Away from body surface

Plane

A three-dimensional axis

Section

A slice parallel to a plane used to visualize internal organization

Sagittal Plane

• Oriented parallel to the long axis

• Seperates right and left portions

Midsagittal section

Passes through the midline, separating into equal right and left sides

Parasagittal Horizontal

Misses the midline, separating into unequal right and left sides

Transveres (or Horizontal, Cross-sectional) Plane

Separates superior and inferior portions

Dorsal Body Cavity

Canial Cavity: brain

Vertebral (Spinal) Cavity: spinal cord

Ventral Body Cavity

• Thoracic Cavity: Contains:

• Pericardial cavity: Heart

• Pleural cavities: Lungs

• Mediastinum

• Adominopelvic Cavity:

• Abdominal Cavity: stomach, intestine, liver, pancreas, spleen

• Pelvic: reproductive organs, bladder, rectum

Other Body Cavities

• Oral

• Nasal

• Orbital

• Middle ear

• Synovial

The oral, nasal, orbital, and middle ear cavities are located in the head and open to the body exterior

Synovial cavities are found in joints between many bones such as the vertebrae of the spine, and at the knee, shoulder, and hip

Serous Membranes

Parietal serosa, Visceral serosa, Peritoneum abdomen. Pleura, Pericardium

Parietal serosa

lines body walls

Visceral serosa

covers organs

Peritoneum abdomen

abdomen

Pleura

lungs

Pericardium

heart

Abdominal Quadrants

RUQ = Right Upper Quadrant

LUQ = Left Upper Quadrant

RLQ = Right Lower Quadrant

LLQ = Left Lower Quadrant

Nine Abdominal Regions

Levels of Organization

Chemical and Molecular Level → Cellular Level → Tissue Level → Organ Level → Organ System Level→ Organism Level

Organ Systems

Integumentary System, Skeletal System, Muscular System, Nervous System, Endocrine System, Cardiovascular System, Lymphatic System, Respiratory System, Digestive System, Urinary System, Reproductive System