BODY PLANE

BODY CAVITIES

  • Definition: Body cavities are spaces within the body that contain vital organs.

    • Types of Cavities: There are two main categories of body cavities:

    • Dorsal Cavities (Posterior): Located on the back side of the body.

      • Cranial Cavity: Holds the brain.

      • Spinal Cavity: Houses the spinal cord.

    • Ventral Cavities (Anterior): Located on the belly side of the body.

      • Thoracic Cavity: Contains the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels.

      • Abdominal Cavity: Contains organs of the digestive and urinary systems including:

      • Stomach

      • Small intestines

      • Liver

      • Gallbladder

      • Pancreas

      • Spleen

      • Part of the large intestine

      • Pelvic Cavity: Contains the urinary bladder, reproductive organs, rectum, the remaining part of the large intestine, and the appendix.

BODY PLANES

  • Definition: Body planes are fixed lines of reference along which the body is often divided or sectioned, allowing for a three-dimensional perspective.

SAGITTAL PLANE

  • Description: The sagittal plane divides the body into two parts:

    • Left

    • Right

MIDSAGITTAL PLANE

  • Description: The midsagittal plane (or midline) divides the body into equal left and right halves.

    • Directional Terms:

    • Medial: Toward the midline.

    • Lateral: Away from the midline.

FRONTAL (CORONAL) PLANE

  • Description: This plane divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections.

    • Anterior Portion: Front part of the body.

    • Posterior Portion: Back part of the body.

TRANSVERSE PLANE

  • Description: Divides the body into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) parts.

DIRECTIONAL TERMS

ANATOMICAL POSITION

  • Definition: The standard anatomical position is characterized by the following:

    • Standing erect

    • Facing forward

    • Arms at the sides

    • Palms facing forward.

ANTERIOR/VENTRAL

  • Definition: Refers to the front (belly) side of the body.

POSTERIOR/DORSAL

  • Definition: Refers to the back side of the body.

SUPERIOR

  • Definition: Above another structure.

INFERIOR

  • Definition: Below another structure.

LATERAL

  • Definition: Indicates a position to the side of the body.

MEDIAL

  • Definition: Refers to the middle or near the medial plane.

PROXIMAL

  • Definition: Means closer to the point of attachment to the trunk.

DISTAL

  • Definition: Means further away from the point of attachment to the trunk.

SUPINE

  • Definition: Refers to lying on the back, facing upward.

PRONE

  • Definition: Refers to lying on the stomach, facing downward.

DEEP

  • Definition: Refers to a position that is through the surface of the body.

SUPERFICIAL

  • Definition: Refers to a position that is on or near the surface of the body.

CRANIAL (CEPHALIC)

  • Definition: Refers to a position toward the head.

CAUDAL

  • Definition: Refers to a position toward the feet.

REGIONS OF THE ABDOMINAL CAVITY

  • Overview: The abdominal cavity is divided into nine regions that are used to describe the location of organs, injuries, or pain.

    • Regions:

    • Epigastric Region: Located upper center, above the stomach.

    • Umbilical Region: Surrounds the umbilicus (navel).

    • Hypogastric Region: Located just below the umbilical region.

    • Hypochondriac Regions: Located just below the ribs, on either side of the epigastric region.

    • Lumbar Regions: Located near the waist, on either side of the umbilical region.

    • Iliac (Inguinal) Regions: Located near the upper portions of the hipbone, on either side of the hypogastric region.

QUADRANTS OF THE ABDOMINAL CAVITY

  • Overview: The abdominal cavity can also be divided into quadrants for a simpler classification.

    • Quadrants:

    • Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ): Contains part of the liver, gallbladder, parts of the pancreas, and intestinal tract, located on the right anterior side.

    • Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ): Contains the appendix, parts of the intestines, female reproductive organs, and the urinary tract, located on the right anterior side.

    • Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ): Contains the stomach, spleen, and parts of the liver, pancreas, and intestines, located on the left anterior side.

    • Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ): Contains parts of the intestines, reproductive organs of the female, and the urinary tract, located on the left anterior side.

Summary of Quadrants

  • RUQ (Right Upper Quadrant)

  • RLQ (Right Lower Quadrant)

  • LUQ (Left Upper Quadrant)

  • LLQ (Left Lower Quadrant)

COMPARATIVE PRIORITY TERMS IN ANATOMICAL POSITION

  • Superior (Cranial): Toward the head.

  • Inferior (Caudal): Toward the feet.

  • Medial: Toward the midline of the body.

  • Lateral: Away from the midline of the body.

  • Proximal: Nearest to the point of attachment to the trunk.

  • Distal: Farthest from the point of attachment to the trunk.

  • Superficial: On or near the surface of the body.

  • Deep: Through the surface of the body.

  • Anterior (Ventral): Toward the front of the body.

  • Posterior (Dorsal): Toward the back of the body.