1. Body Planes, Direction, and Cavities
Health Science
Eliza Dudley, RN, MSN

2. Facing East or West
It would be difficult to apply these terms to the human body and other directional terms have been applied.

3. Body Planes
Imaginary lines drawn through the various parts to separate the body into sections.

4. Three Main Body Planes
1. Transverse plane- horizontal and divides the body into top half and bottom half.
2. Midsagittal-median-divides body into right and left sides.

5. Third Body Plane
3. Frontal –divides the body into front and back sections

6. Body Cavities
Spaces within the body that contains vital organs.

7. Two Main Body Cavities
1. Dorsal cavity is one long, continuous cavity located on the back of the body.
Also known as the posterior or back portion.

8. Second Type of Body Cavity
2. Ventral cavities are larger than the dorsal cavities.
This is known as the anterior or front cavity.

9. Cavities
1. Thoracic
2. Abdominal
3. Pelvic
4. Orbital-eyes
5. Nasal-nose
6. Buccal-mouth

10. Abdominal Regions
Abdominal is a LARGE cavity and is divided into regions or sections.
One method: quadrants-
RUQ, LUQ, LLQ, RLQ

11. TERMS 1. epigastric Above the stomach 2. umbilical
Near the umbilicus or belly button
3. hypogastric
Below the stomach

12. Terms
4. lumbar
Near the spinal cord
5. inguinal
Near the groin

13. Activity
Turn to your neighbor and share three facts about body planes, directions, and cavities.
Create one question to ask another group and write it down.
Gently toss it to the other group. Each group must have one! SHARE!