1. Anatomical Position: Universally accepted standard position
Anatomical reference point for:
Accurate description of body parts & position
Involves:
Body erect
Feet slightly apart
Palms facing forward
Thumbs point away from body
Figure 1.7a

2. Superior (cranial) and inferior (caudal):
Directional Terms
Superior (cranial) and inferior (caudal):
toward and away from the head, respectively
Anterior (ventral) and posterior (dorsal):
toward the front and back of the body, respectively
Medial:
toward the midline
Lateral:
away from the midline

3. Directional Terms Intermediate: Proximal: Distal:
between a more medial and a more lateral structure
Proximal:
closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk
Distal:
farther from the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk
Superficial (external):
toward the body surface
Deep (internal):
away from the body surface

4. Directional Terms
Table 1.1a

5. Directional Terms
Table 1.1b

6. Regional Terms: Anterior View
Nasal (nose)
Oral (mouth)
Cervical (neck)
Frontal (forehead)
Orbital (eye)
Buccal (cheek)
Mental (chin)
(a) Anterior
Figure 1.7a

7. Regional Terms: Anterior View
Nasal (nose)
Oral (mouth)
Cervical (neck)
Acromial
(point of shoulder)
Axillary (armpit)
Brachial (arm)
Antecubital
(front of elbow)
Abdominal
(abdomen)
Pelvic (pelvis)
Antebrachial
(forearm)
Carpal (wrist)
Palmar
(palm)
Pollex
(thumb)
Digital
(fingers)
Mammary
(breast)
Frontal (forehead)
Orbital (eye)
Buccal (cheek)
Sternal
(breastbone)
Thoracic
(chest)
Mental (chin)
Umbilical
(navel)
(a) Anterior
Figure 1.7a

8. Regional Terms: Anterior View
Nasal (nose)
Oral (mouth)
Cervical (neck)
Acromial
(point of shoulder)
Axillary (armpit)
Brachial (arm)
Antecubital
(front of elbow)
Abdominal
(abdomen)
Pelvic (pelvis)
Antebrachial
(forearm)
Carpal (wrist)
Palmar
(palm)
Pollex
(thumb)
Digital
(fingers)
Pubic (genital region)
Patellar
(anterior knee)
Crural (leg)
Tarsal (ankle)
Pedal
(foot)
Digital (toes)
Inguinal
(groin)
Coxal
(hip)
Femoral
(thigh)
Fibular, or
peroneal
(side of leg)
Hallux (great toe)
Mammary
(breast)
Frontal (forehead)
Orbital (eye)
Buccal (cheek)
Sternal
(breastbone)
Thoracic
(chest)
Mental (chin)
Umbilical
(navel)
(a) Anterior
Figure 1.7a

9. Regional Terms: Posterior View
Otic (ear)
Occipital (back of
head or base of skull)
Cephalic
(head)
(b) Posterior
Figure 1.7b

10. Regional Terms: Posterior View
Brachial (arm)
Otic (ear)
Occipital (back of
head or base of skull)
Acromial
(point of shoulder)
Vertebral
(spinal column)
Scapular
(shoulder blade)
Dorsum or dorsal
(back)
Olecranal
(back of elbow)
Lumbar (loin)
Sacral
(between hips)
Manus
(hand)
Upper
extremity
Cephalic
(head)
(b) Posterior
Figure 1.7b

11. Regional Terms: Posterior View
Brachial (arm)
Otic (ear)
Occipital (back of
head or base of skull)
Acromial
(point of shoulder)
Vertebral
(spinal column)
Scapular
(shoulder blade)
Dorsum or dorsal
(back)
Olecranal
(back of elbow)
Lumbar (loin)
Sacral
(between hips)
Gluteal (buttock)
Perineal
(region between
the anus and
external genitalia)
Femoral (thigh)
Popliteal
(back of knee)
Sural (calf)
Calcaneal (heel)
Plantar (sole)
Manus
(hand)
Upper
extremity
Cephalic
(head)
Lower
(b) Posterior
Figure 1.7b

12. Body Planes
Sagittal: Divides the body into right and left parts
Midsagittal or median – sagittal plane that lies on the midline
Parasagittal – sagittal planes offset from the midline
Frontal or coronal – divides the body into anterior and posterior parts
Transverse or horizontal (cross section) – divides the body into superior and inferior parts
Oblique section – cut made diagonally

13. Body Planes
Figure 1.8

14. Anatomical Variability
Humans vary slightly in both external and internal anatomy
Over 90% of all anatomical structures match textbook descriptions, but:
Nerves or blood vessels may be somewhat out of place
Small muscles may be missing
Extreme anatomical variations are seldom seen

15. Body Cavities Dorsal cavity: Ventral cavity:
protects the nervous system
divided into two continuous subdivisions:
Cranial cavity: – within the skull; encases the brain
Vertebral cavity: – within the vertebral column; encases the spinal cord
Ventral cavity:
houses the internal organs (viscera)
divided into two separate subdivisions:
Thoracic
Abdominopelvic

16. Body Cavities Cranial cavity (contains brain) Thoracic Dorsal body
Diaphragm
Abdominal cavity
(contains digestive
viscera)
Pelvic cavity
(contains bladder,
reproductive organs,
and rectum)
Vertebral cavity
(contains spinal
cord)
Key:
Dorsal body cavity
Ventral body cavity
Thoracic
(contains
heart
and lungs)
(a) Lateral view
Figure 1.9a

17. Thoracic cavity is subdivided into:
Body Cavities
Thoracic cavity is subdivided into:
Two lateral cavities, the pleural cavities:
Each houses a lung
A medial Cavity, the mediastinum:
It contains the pericardial cavity, which encloses the heart
It also surrounds the remaining thoracic organs (esophagus, trachea & others)

18. Body Cavities Key: Cranial Dorsal body cavity Ventral body cavity
(thoracic
and
abdomino-
pelvic
cavities)
Abdomino-
cavity
Superior
mediastinum
Pleural
Cranial
Vertebral
Pericardial
cavity within
the mediastinum
Diaphragm
Abdominal cavity
(contains digestive
viscera)
Pelvic cavity
(contains bladder,
reproductive organs,
and rectum)
Thoracic
(contains
heart
and lungs)
(b) Anterior view
Key:
Dorsal body cavity
Ventral body cavity
Figure 1.9b

19. The abdominopelvic cavity:
Body Cavities
The abdominopelvic cavity:
Separated from the superior thoracic cavity by the dome-shaped diaphragm
Composed of two subdivisions:
Abdominal cavity:
contains the stomach, intestines, spleen, liver, and other organs
Pelvic cavity:
lies within the pelvis and contains the bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum

20. Ventral Body Cavity Membranes
Serosa (serous membrane):
Thin double layered membrane called serosa
The part covers cavity walls is the parietal serosa
That covers surfaces of organs is visceral serosa
Serous fluid separates the two serosae
Membranes are named according to their cavity:
Parietal & visceral pericardium
Parietal & visceral pleura
Parietal & visceral peritoneum

21. Serous Membrane Relationship
Figure 1.10a

22. Heart Serosae
Figure 1.10b

23. Other Body Cavities Oral and digestive: Nasal: Orbital: Middle ear:
Mouth and of digestive organs cavities
Nasal:
Located within and posterior to the nose
Orbital:
House the eyes
Middle ear:
Contains bones (ossicles) that transmit sound vibrations
Synovial:
Joint cavities

24. Other Body Cavities
Figure 1.13

25. Abdominopelvic Regions (Anatomist Method)
Figure 1.11a

26. Organs of the Abdominopelvic Regions
Figure 1.11b

27. Abdominopelvic Quadrants (Medical Method)
Right upper
Left upper
Right lower
Left lower
Figure 1.12