Orientation of the Body

atom → molecule → cell tissue → organ → organ system → organism

Body Systems

  1. Digestive System

  2. Urinary System

  3. Reproductive System

  4. Endocrine System

  5. Lymphatic/Immune system

  6. Integumentary system

  7. Muscular system

  8. Skeletal System

  9. Cardiovascular System

    1. Nervous System
    2. Respiratory System

Directional Terms

medial:: towards body midline

lateral:: away from body midline

deep:: through the surface

superior:: on or near the surface/above

anterior (ventral):: front side of body

posterior (dorsal):: back side of body

proximal:: toward body center

distal:: away from body center

cranial:: toward head

inferior:: below

caudal:: toward feet

Anatomical Position

Body must be:

  • Standing Erect

  • Facing Forward

  • Arms at Side

  • Palms Forward

Planes

sagittal plane:: divides body vertically (left and right)

medial plane:: divides body in equal halves vertically

frontal (coronal) plane:: divides body into anterior and posterior sections

transverse plane:: divides body into superior and inferior sections

Body Cavities

  • Spaces within the body containing vital organs

  • Two main cavities (Dorsal & Ventral)

  • Dorsal - (posterior) on the back side of the body

    • Cranial Cavity- holds the brain
    • Spinal Cavity- holds the spinal cord

  • Ventral - (anterior) on the belly of the body

    • Thoracic Cavity- holds the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels
    • Abdominal Cavity- holds organs of the digestive & urinary systems
    • stomach, small intestines, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, & part of the large intestine
    • Pelvic Cavity- - contains the urinary bladder, reproductive organs, rectum, remaining part of   the large intestine and appendix.

Abdominal Quadrants & Regions

RUQ- right lobe of liver, duodenum, ==right kidney==, gall bladder, head of pancreas, @@parts of large intestine@@

RLQ- appendix, %%small intestine%%, female reproductive organs, ^^urinary tract^^

LUQ- stomach, spleen, pancreas, ==left kidney==, @@part of large intestine@@

LLQ- @@parts of large intestine,@@ %%parts of small intestine%%, female reproductive organs, ^^urinary tract^^

Regions: Abdominal cavity is divided into nine cavities.

  • Epigastric- upper, center area above the stomach
  • Umbilical- the region surrounds the umbilicus
  • Hypogastric- area just below the umbilical region
  • Hypochondriac:: just below the ribs, immediately over the abdomen
  • Lumber:: near the waist on either side of the umbilical cord
  • Iliac/Inguinal:: located near the upper portion of the hipbone on either side of the hypogastric region

Anatomy:: the branch of science concerned with the bodily structure of humans, animals, and other living things, especially as revealed by dissection and the separation of parts

Physiology:: the branch of biology that deals with normal functions of living organisms and parts

Homeostasis:: the tendency towards a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes

Pathophysiology:: the study of processes that disturb normal functions

Organ:: a part of a organism that is self-contained and has a specific vital function