med term unit 1 directional terms

Anterior (ventral)

Anterior (ventral)

front of the body (ventral)

anteroposterior

passing from the front of the body (anterior) to the back (posterior)

caudal

toward the tailbone

cephalic

toward the head

deep

away from the surface of the body

distal

away from the point of origin

dorsal (posterior)

back of the body

external

outer part of the body

inferior

body part located below another part; closer to the feet

internal

deep within the body

lateral

toward the sides of the body

posterior

toward the back of the body

posteroanterior

passing from the posterior (rear/back) of the pody to the anterior (front)

prone

lying face down with the palms facing downward

proxiaml

closer to the point of origin

superficial

toward the surface of the body

superior

body part located above another part; closer to the head

supine

lying on the back with the palms facing upward

ventral

front of the body; anterior

erect

normal standing position

fowler's

semi-sitting; head of bead elevated

prone

lying face down

supine

lying flat; face up

lateral

lying on the side, left or right

sim's

lying on the side; one knee is straight while the other is bent

knee-chest

lying face down; knees bent resting on knees and chest

frontal plane

a vertical plane that divides the body into front and back

anterior (frontal plane)

front side, near head

ventral (frontal plane)

front side near belly

posterior (frontal plane)

back side, near rear

dorsal (frontal plane)

back side, near spine

midsagittal plane

a vertical plane that divides the body into left and right

medial (sagittal plane)

near center or midline

lateral (sagittal plane)

sides, far from center

proximal (sagittal plane)

near point of origin

distal (sagittal plane)

far from point of origin

transverse plane

a horizontal plane that divides the body into upper and lower

superior (transverse plane)

close to head; top

inferior (transverse plane)

close to feet; bottom

cephalic (transverse plane)

related to the head

caudal (transverse plane)

related to the tail

body cavity

a space in the body that contains internal organs and/or other structures

dorsal cavity

one of the two main cavities; protects organs and tissues on back side of the body. divided into 2 other cavities

cranial cavity

located in the skull; protects brain

spinal cavity

located in the spinal column; protects spinal cord

ventral cavity

one of the two main cavities; protects organs and tissues on front side of the body. divided into three other cavities

thoracic cavity

contains heart, lungs, esophagus, and chest blood vessels. Separated from the abdominal cavity by the diaphragm

Abdominal Cavity

Contains stomach, liver, spleen, pancreas, and parts of the large intestine.

Pelvic Cavity

Cavity in the pelvice

Abdominopelvic cavity

Made up from the abdominal and pelvic cavities

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)

the right upper part of the body

left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)

The upper left part of the body

Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)

The lower right part of the body

Left Lower quadrant (LLQ)

the lower left part of the body

Right Hypochondriac

The upper right part of the abdomen.

Epigastric

The region above the stomach.

Left Hypochondriac

The upper left part of the abdomen. Beneath the cartilage of the lower ribs ("hypochondriac")

Right Lumbar

Region of the back to the right side of the lumbar spine.

Umbilical

The region surrounding the umbilical cord, or belly button.

Left Lumbar

Region of the back to the left side of the lumbar spine.

Right Iliac

The lower right part of the abdomen.

Hypogastric (Pelvic)

Region below stomach

Left Iliac

The lower left part of the abdomen