Directional Terms, Planes, Body Cavities and Abdominopelvic Regions A&P1

Superior (cranial): Above

Inferior (caudal): Below

Lateral: Side

Medial: Middle

Proximal: Closest to point of attachment

Distal: Furthest from point of attachment

Posterior (dorsal): Back

Anterior (ventral): Front

Ipsilateral: Same side

Contralateral: Opposite side

Superficial: Toward the surface

Deep: Further away from the surface

Prone: Face down

Supine: Face up

Sagittal: This plane divides into right side from left side.

Midsagittal: This plane divides into EQUAL right and left halves

Transverse: This plane divides into top and bottom

Frontal (Coronal): This divides into the front and back.

Cranial Body Cavity: Formed by the skull; contains the brain.

Vertebral Body Cavity: Inside the vertebral column formed by the bones of the vertebrae; contains the spinal cord.

Thoracic Body Cavity: Inside the rib cage, superior to the diaphragm. Contains the heart and lungs.

Abdominopelvic Body Cavity: Below the diaphragm, contains the abdominal organs (stomach, liver, intestines, pancreas, spleen) and pelvic organs (bladder and reproductive organs).

Upper Left Abdominopelvic Regions: Left Hypochondriac Region

Middle Left Abdominopelvic Regions: Left Lumbar Region

Bottom Left Abdominopelvic Regions: Left Iliac Region

Top Middle Abdominopelvic Regions: Epigastric Region

Center Abdominopelvic Regions: Umbilical Region

Bottom Middle Abdominopelvic Regions: Hypogastric Region

Upper Right Abdominopelvic Regions: Right Hypochondriac Region

Middle Right Abdominopelvic Regions: Right Lumbar

Lower Right Abdominopelvic Regions: Right Iliac