1. Body Organization, Planes & Directional Terms
Organized on four levels
Cells
Tissues
Organs
Body systems

2. Anatomic Position Human standing erect Faced forward Arms at side
Palms forward
“right” or “left” is always in reference to this position. In other words, it’s from the images perspective.

3. Body Cavities
Two main cavities
Dorsal
Ventral

4. Dorsal Cavity Cranial Cavity Contains the brain Spinal cavity
contains the spine

5. Ventral Cavity Thoracic Cavity Located within the chest
Contains the heart, lungs and great vessels
Abdominal cavity
Contains major organs of digestion
Pelvic Cavity
Contains reproductive and excretory organs

6. Anatomical/body planes
Used to pinpoint or specifically locate an area of the body
Remember anatomic position!
Anatomical Planes: imaginary flat plates or fields
1. frontal/coronal plane: vertical plane;
Divides into anterior and posterior portions
2. Sagittal plane: vertical plane passes from front to back
Divides body into right and left halves
3. transverse: horizontal plane
Divides body into top and bottom halves

8. Divisions of the abdomen
Left upper quadrant (LUQ)
Contains pancreas, stomach, spleen, large/small intestine
Right upper quadrant (RUQ)
Most of liver, large/small intestine
Right lower quadrant (RLQ)
Appendix, some female reproductive organs, some of the intestine
Left lower quadrant (LLQ)
Some of the intestine and some female reproductive organs

9. Regions of the Thorax and Abdomen
Hypochondriac-(Hypo/chondr/iac)
Pertaining to below the ribs
Epigastric-(Epi/gastr/ic)
Pertaining to above the stomach
Lumbar
Inward curve of the spine
Umbilical
Belly button or navel
Iliac region
Upper hip bone
Hypogastric region
Groin or inguinal area

10. Directional Terms

11. Medial
Moving towards the midline of the body

12. Lateral
Moving towards the outside of the body; opposite of medial

13. Anterior/ventral Posterior/Dorsal
Referring to the front part of the body
Posterior/Dorsal
Back part of the body

14. Superior (cephalic) Towards the head
Inferior
(caudal)
Towards the feet

15. Directional Terms
Distal: body part lies distant to the original reference point
Proximal: body part lies close to the reference point
External: location outside or near the surface of the body
Internal: location inside the body
Deep: through the surface
Superficial : near the surface

16. Directional Terms
Supine: laying face up
Prone: laying face down