Anatomical Planes, Quadrants, and Body Cavities

anatomy

anatomy

The study of the structures of the body.

physiology

the study of the functions of body structures

pathophysiology

the study of disease

Anatomical Position

Used when referencing location, position, and direction of the body. Standing upright, head and feet facing forward, arms at side, palms facing forward.

Frontal Plane

Divides the body into a front and back side

Transverse plane

Divides the body into an upper and lower side.

Midsagittal plane

Divides the body in the middle into a left and right side

Left Upper Quadrant

The top left corner of the abdominal quadrant

Right Upper Quadrant

The top right corner of the abdominal quadrant

Left Lower Quadrant

The bottom left corner of the abdominal quadrant

Right Lower Quadrant

The bottom right corner of the abdominal quadrant

cranial cavity

the cavity enclosed by the cranium

Spinal cavity

the cavity that goes from the top of the spine going down to the tail bone.

posterior

located at the behind of the human body

anterior

located at the front of the human body

middle ear

the main cavity of the ear; between the eardrum and the inner ear

orbital cavity

the cavity housing the eyes

nasal cavity

the cavity that contains the nose

oral cavity

the cavity that contains the mouth, tounge, and teeth

thoracic

the cavity that's located upon your chest

diaphragm

a muscular partition separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities; functions in respiration

abdominal cavity

the cavity containing the major viscera; in mammals it is separated from the thorax by the diaphragm

pelvic cavity

the cavity bounded by the bones of the pelvis and containing the pelvic viscera

abdomina-pelvic

the cavity containing both the abdomen and the pelvic cavity

Epigastric region

the region located above the stomach

Left hypochondriac region

The region located on the left, below the ribs

Right hypochondriac region

The region located on the right, below the ribs

Umbilical region

The region located in the middle of the stomach where the belly button is

Left lumbar region

The region located on the lower back, to the left

Right lumbar region

The region located on the lower back, to the right

Left iliac region

The region located around the ilium, to the left

Right iliac region

The region located around the ilium, to the right

Hypogastric region

the region located right below the stomach