Ch-01-Foundations-Pt-2-handout

Anatomical Position

• Definition: A standard position where a person stands erect with face and palms facing forward.

• Reference Point: All anatomical descriptions are based on this position, irrespective of body orientation.

• Perspective: Left and right refer to the patient's perspective.

Paired Directional Terms

• Superior: Above

• Inferior: Below

• Anterior: Front (ventral)

• Posterior: Back (dorsal)

• Medial: Close to midline

• Lateral: Away from midline

• Proximal: Close to point of attachment

• Distal: Far from point of attachment

• Superficial: Structure close to the surface

• Deep: Structure toward the interior of the body

Anatomical Regions & Landmarks

Major Regions

• Cephalic: Head

• Cervical: Neck

• Thoracic: Upper chest

• Abdominal: Abdomen

• Pelvic: Pelvis

• Pubic: Genital area

• Appendicular: Limbs

Key Landmarks in Body Regions

• Cephalic: Frontal, Orbital, Nasal, Oral, Mental

• Cervical: Provides neck regions

• Thoracic: Sternal, Axillary, Mammary

• Abdominal: Umbilical, Inguinal

• Back (Dorsal): Scapular, Vertebral, Lumbar

• Lower Limb: Femoral, Patellar, Popliteal, Crural

• Pedal: Tarsal, Calcaneal, Metatarsal, Digital, Plantar, Hallux

• Upper Limb: Brachial, Antecubital, Olecranal, Antebrachial, Carpal, Metacarpal, Palmar, Digital

• Other Regions: Gluteal, Perineal (between anus and external genitalia)

Abdominopelvic Quadrants

• RUQ (Right Upper Quadrant): Right lobe of liver, gallbladder, right kidney, portions of stomach, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine.

• RLQ (Right Lower Quadrant): Appendix, right ovary, portions of small intestine, large intestine, urinary bladder, uterus, rectum.

• LUQ (Left Upper Quadrant): Left lobe of liver, spleen, majority of stomach, left kidney, portions of pancreas, small intestine, large intestine.

• LLQ (Left Lower Quadrant): Left ovary, portions of small intestine, large intestine, urinary bladder, rectum.

Abdominopelvic Regions

• Subdivision: Divides abdomen and pelvis into nine regions using two transverse and two sagittal lines.

Regions

• Upper 3: Epigastric (between right & left hypochondriac)

• Middle 3: Umbilical (between right & left lumbar)

• Lower 3: Hypogastric (between right & left iliac)

• Midsagittal Plane: Divides body into equal left and right halves.

Body Planes

Sagittal Plane

• Definition: Separates body into right and left parts.

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

• Definition: Vertical plane dividing body into anterior and posterior parts.

Transverse Plane

• Definition: Horizontal plane separating body into superior and inferior parts.

Body Cavities

Dorsal Body Cavity

• Cranial Cavity: Contains the brain

• Vertebral Canal: Contains the spinal cord

Ventral Body Cavity

• Structure: Contains most internal organs (viscera)

• Divisions: Thoracic cavity and Abdominopelvic cavity

Thoracic Cavity

• Defined as space within chest wall above diaphragm.

• Subdivisions:

  • Pleural Cavities: Left & Right (contain lungs)

  • Mediastinum: Between the lungs (contains heart, thymus, esophagus, trachea)

Abdominopelvic Cavity

• Definition: Space from diaphragm to pelvic floor.

• Subdivisions:

  • Abdominal Cavity: Contains stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys.

  • Pelvic Cavity: Contains urinary bladder, reproductive organs, part of large intestine.

Serous Membranes

• Definition: Line cavities within the ventral body cavity, producing serous fluid.

• Parietal Serous Membrane: Lines walls of the cavities.

• Visceral Serous Membrane: Covers the organs.

• Name After Cavities:

  • Pericardium: Lines pericardial cavity around the heart.

  • Pleura: Lines pleural cavities around the lungs.

  • Peritoneum: Lines peritoneal cavity around abdominal organs.

Pleural Cavities

• Visceral Pleura: Covers lungs.

• Parietal Pleura: Lines thoracic wall.

• Function: Contains pleural fluid that reduces friction and adheres lungs to thoracic wall.

Pericardial Cavity

• Visceral Pericardium: Covers surface of the heart.

• Parietal Pericardium: Tough fibrous sack surrounding the heart.

• Function: Filled with pericardial fluid that reduces friction.

Peritoneal Cavity

• Functions: Surrounds organs in the abdominopelvic cavity.

• Visceral Peritoneum: Covers organs.

• Parietal Peritoneum: Lines walls of peritoneal cavity.

• Function: Contains peritoneal fluid that reduces friction.

• Mesentery: Double-layer of visceral peritoneum anchoring organs to body wall.

• Retroperitoneal Organs: Organs located behind the peritoneal cavity e.g., kidneys, rectum (SAD PUCKER).