Orientation of the Body

Thoracic Cavity

holds the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels.

Abdominal Cavity

holds organs of the digestive & urinary systems.

lateral

away from body midline

deep

through the surface

superior

on or near the surface/above

anterior (ventral)

front side of body

posterior (dorsal)

back side of body

proximal

toward body center

distal

away from body center

cranial

toward head

inferior

below

caudal

toward feet

sagittal plane

divides body vertically (left and right)

medial plane

divides body in equal halves vertically

frontal (coronal) plane

divides body into anterior and posterior sections

transverse plane

divides body into superior and inferior sections

Dorsal

(posterior) on the back side of the body

Ventral

(anterior) on the belly of the body

Pelvic Cavity

contains the urinary bladder, reproductive organs, rectum, remaining part of   the large intestine and appendix

RUQ

right lobe of liver, duodenum, right kidney, gall bladder, head of pancreas, parts of large intestine

RLQ

appendix, small intestine, female reproductive organs, urinary tract

LUQ

stomach, spleen, pancreas, left kidney, part of large intestine

LLQ

parts of large intestine, parts of small intestine, female reproductive organs, urinary tract

Hypochondriac

just below the ribs, immediately over the abdomen

Lumber

near the waist on either side of the umbilical cord

Iliac/Inguinal

located near the upper portion of the hipbone on either side of the hypogastric region

Anatomy

the branch of science concerned with the bodily structure of humans, animals, and other living things, especially as revealed by dissection and the separation of parts

Physiology

the branch of biology that deals with normal functions of living organisms and parts

Homeostasis

the tendency towards a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes

Pathophysiology

the study of processes that disturb normal functions

Organ

a part of a organism that is self-contained and has a specific vital function