Radiology Med Terms Chapter 2

Abdominal cavity-space below the chest containing organs: liver, stomach, gallbladder, intestines, also called abdomen or peritoneal cavity

Cranial cavity-space in the head containing the brain and surrounded by the skull, cranial means pertaining to the skull

Diaphragm-muscle separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities. The diaphragm moves up and down and aids in breathing

Dorsal (posterior)-pertaining to the back

Mediastinum-centrally located space outside of and between the lungs

Pelvic cavity-space below the abdomen containing portions of the intestines, rectum, urinary bladder, and reproductive organs. Pelvic means pertaining to the pelvis, which is composed of hip bones surrounding the pelvic cavity

Peritoneum-double folded membrane surrounding the abdominal cavity protective membrane around the organs

Pleura- double-folded membrane surrounding each lung, pleural means pertain to the pleura

Pleural cavity- space between pleural layers

Spinal cavity- space within the spinal column

Thoracic cavity- space in the chest containing the heart, lungs, bronchial tubes, trachea, esophagus, and other organs

Ventral (anterior)-pertaining to front

Cervical-neck region, 7 cervical vertebrae

Thoracic-chest region 12 thoracic vertebrae

Lumbar-loin (waist) or flank region 5 lumbar vertebrae

Sacral-five bones fused to form one

Coccygeal-coccyx (tailbone) a small bone composed of four fused pieces

Anterior (ventral)-front side of body

Posterior (dorsal) -back side of body

Deep-away from the surface

Superficial-on the surface

Proximal-near the point of attachment to the trunk or near the beginning of a structure

Distal-far from the point of attachment to the trunk or far from the beginning of the structure

Inferior-below another surface

Superior-above another surface

Medial-pertaining to the middle or nearer the medial plane of the body

Lateral-pertaining to the side

Supine-lying on the back

Prone-lying on the belly

Frontal (coronal)-vertical plane dividing the body or structure into anterior and posterior portions

Sagittal (lateral)-lengthwise vertical plane dividing body or structure into right and left sides

Transverse (axial)- horizontal (cross-sectional) plane running across the body parallel to the ground

Additional terms to know:

Anatomical position- standard reference position of the body,

standing with arms at the side and palms turned forward, with head

and feet pointing forward

Dorsum- back or posterior surface of a part, in the foot it is the top

of the foot

Fowler’s- supine position with head higher than the feet

approximately 45- 60 degrees (18- 20 inches above flat position)

Mediolateral- going from the midline of a structure to the side of a

structureMidline of the body- imaginary line created when the body is

divided into equal right and left halves

Midsagittal Plane- plane the at divides the body into right and left

equal portions

Semi- Fowler’s- supine position with head higher than feet

approximately 30 degrees

Sims’- recumbent position with the patient lying on the left

anterior side with the left leg extended and the right knee and thigh

partially flexed

Trendelenburg- supine position with the head tilted downward

Lateromedial- going from the side of a structure towards the

midline of the structure

Lithotomy- a supine position with the knees and hip flexed and

thighs abducted and rotated externally, supported by ankle

supports

Longitudinal plane- divides the body into right and left segments

Plantar- pertaining to the sole or bottom of the foot

Decubitus- the patient is lying down and that the central ray is

horizontal and parallel with the floor

Oblique- rotating the entire body or body part so that the coronal

plane is not parallel with the IR

Recumbent- general term referring to lying down in any position

Coronal plane- divides the body into anterior and posterior