1. The Language of Anatomy

2. Anatomical Position body erect
Left
Right
body erect
arms at sides of body with palms forward
thumbs pointed out/away from the body

3. Directional Terms

4. superior
medial
proximal
superficial
anterior
posterior
deep
inferior
lateral
distal

5. Directional Terms superior - above inferior - below
anterior - in front of
posterior - behind
medial - towards midline/ inner
lateral - away from midline/ outer
proximal - closer to point of attachment
distal - farther from point of attachment
superficial - toward surface
deep – internal

6. Body Planes sagittal - longitudinally divides into left and right
midsagittal - divides into left and right
frontal - longitudinally divides into front and back
transverse - horizontally divides body into superior and inferior (top and bottom)
“cross sections”

7. Major Body Cavities

8. vertebral - spinal cord
Major Body Cavities
contain internal organs
1. Dorsal
cranial - brain
vertebral - spinal cord

9. Major Body Cavities thoracic - heart and lungs abdominopelvic
2. Ventral
thoracic - heart and lungs
abdominopelvic
abdominal stomach, intestines, spleen, liver
pelvic - bladder and reproductive organs

11. 9. 8.

12. Serous Membranes
walls of ventral body cavity and surfaces of organs are covered in a double layer of serous membrane
separated by a lubricating fluid which allows organs to move freely without causing friction
layers
parietal - lines cavity
visceral – clings to organ
parietal
cavity
with
fluid
visceral

13. ex: pericardium - surrounds heart
parietal pericardium
visceral pericardium

14. ex: pleural - surrounds lungs

15. ex: peritoneum

16. Mesentery connects parietal and visceral peritoneum
anchor organs, provides a pathway for nerves and blood vessels