1. Body Planes, Directions, and Cavities
JAMES VALLEY VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL CENTER

2. Objectives
Label a diagram of the three planes of the body with the names of the planes and the directional terms created by these planes
Label a diagram of the main body cavities

3. Objectives Cont…. Identify the main organs located in each body cavity
Locate the four quadrants and the nine abdominal regions
Define, pronounce, and spell all of the key terms

4. Body Planes:
Definition = imaginary lines drawn through the body to separate the body into sections

5. Transverse Plane:
Horizontal plane dividing the body into a top and bottom half
1. Superior = body parts above other parts
2. Inferior = body parts below other parts

6. 3. Cranial = body parts near the head
4. Caudal = body parts located near the sacral region of the spinal column (or near the tail bone)

7. Median Plane: Divides the body into right and left sides
1. Medial = body parts located near the middle or midline of the body
2. Lateral = body parts located away from the midline or middle of the body

8. Frontal Plane: Divides the body into front and back section.
1. Anterior = body parts on the front of the body
2. Posterior = body parts on the back of the body

9. Proximal = body parts close to the point of reference
Distal = body parts away from the point of reference

10. Body Cavities:
Spaces within the body which contain vital organs

11. Posterior Cavity:
One long continuous cavity that is located on the back of the body, divided into two sections
1. Cranial Cavity = contains the brain
2. Spinal Cavity = contains the spinal cord

12. Anterior Cavities:
Larger and separated into two distinct cavities by a dome-shaped muscle called the diaphragm, which is important for breathing
1. Thoracic Cavity = located in the chest, contains the heart, lungs, and the large blood vessels

13. 2. Abdominal Cavity = divided into upper and lower parts
Upper part contains the stomach, small intestines, most of the large intestines, liver, gallbladder, pancreas and spleen
3. Pelvic Cavity = lower abdominal cavity containing urinary bladder, the reproductive organs, and last part of the large intestines

14. Abdominal Regions: Quadrants
1. Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)
2. Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)
3. Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)
4. Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)

15. Abdominal Regions: Epigastric Umbilical Pelvic Hypochondriac Lateral
Inguinal