1. INTRODUCTION TO STRUCTURAL UNITS CHAPTER 1 Body Structures and
HUMAN BODY IN HEALTH AND DISEASE
Chapter 2 Medical Terminology
Body Structures Text book chapter one.
Pages 1-7
Exercise: Review questions
Body Structures Workbook chapter one.
Pages 1 – 11
Exercise: D,F,G
Medical Term book chapter two.
Pages 26 – 41.
Exercises: 1 – 100
Show Delmar Movie 2 “Organization of the body”

2. ANATOMIC REFERENCE SYSTEMS
Used to describe location/function of body parts
Include:
Body Planes
Body Directions
Body Cavities
Structural Units
Anatomy and Physiology Defined
Anatomy: the study of the structures of the body
Physiology: the study of the function of the structures
of the body
Divisions, planes, directions, and sections are all on Test One.

3. STANDARD ANATOMIC POSITION
The body is described based on this position –
especially in RADIOLOGY
ERECT – in the standing position
FACING FORWARD
WITH ARMS AT SIDES
HANDS WITH PALMS TOWARD THE
FRONT (SUPINATED)

4. BODY PLANES
Imaginary horizontal and vertical lines used to divide the body into sections for descriptive purposes
Vertical Planes
Up-and-down line at a right angle to the horizon
Midsagittal plane: AKA midline – vertical plane that divides the body, from top to bottom, into equal left and right halves
Sagittal plane: any vertical plane parallel to the midline that divides the body into unequal left and right portions
Coronal plane: AKA frontal plane – (coron = head or crown/ al = pertaining to) any vertical plane, at right angles to the sagittal plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions

6. Horizontal Planes Flat crosswise line like the horizon
Transverse plane: AKA horizontal plane – divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions
Can be at waist or any other level of the body

9. Body Directions
Relative location of the whole body or an organ is described through the use of pairs of contrasting body direction terms
Ventral: front/belly side of body or organ – abdomen
Dorsal: back of body or organ – spine
Anterior: situated in front – also means forward part of an organ – stomach is anterior to the pancreas
Posterior: situated in the back – also means on the back part of an organ – pancreas is located posterior to the stomach
Superior: uppermost, above, or toward the head – lungs are superior to the diaphragm
Inferior: lowermost, below, or toward the feet – stomach is located inferior to the diaphragm

10. Body Directions - continued
Cephalic: means toward the head
Caudal: means toward the lower part of the body (feet)
Proximal: situated nearest the midline or beginning of a body structure – the shoulder is proximal to the elbow
Distal: situated farthest from the midline or beginning of a body structure - Elbow is distal to the shoulder
Medial: direction toward or nearer the midline – spine
Lateral: direction toward or nearer the side and away from the midline – lateral ligament of knee is near the side of the leg
Bilateral: relating to, or having, two sides

13. Major Body Cavities
A space within the body that contains and protects the internal organs
Dorsal Cavity
divided into two parts, protects the structures of the nervous system that coordinate the bodily functions
Cranial Cavity: located within the skull, protects the brain
Spinal Cavity: located within the spinal column, protects the spinal cord
Ventral Cavity
Divided into three parts, contains many of the body organs that maintain homeostasis
Thoracic Cavity: AKA Chest Cavity – protects the heart and lungs
Diaphragm: muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities
Abdominal Cavity: contains primarily the major organs of digestion
Pelvic Cavity: the space formed by the pelvic (hip) bones – contains primarily the organs of the reproductive and excretory systems
Abdominopelvic Cavity: there is no division btwn. the abdominal and pelvic cavities
HOMEOSTASIS: maintaining a constant internal environment

17. Divisions of the Abdomen
The abdomen is divided into four imaginary quadrants – meaning divided into 4 (used to describe where organ or pain is located)
Right Upper Quadrant – (RUQ)
Left Upper Quadrant – (LUQ)
Right Lower Quadrant – (RLQ)
Left Lower Quadrant – (LLQ)

19. Regions of the Thorax and Abdomen
Used for descriptive purposes also, nine regions divide abdomen and lower portion of the thorax
Right and left hypochondriac regions: (Hypochondriac = means below the ribs) – also means individual with an abnormal and excessive concern about his or her health
Epigastric Region: (Epigastric = means above the stomach)
Right and left Lumbar Regions: (Lumbar = refers to the inward curve of the spine)
Umbilical Region: (Umbilical = refers to the umbilicus AKA belly button/navel – the pit in the center of the abdominal wall marking the point where the umbilical cord was attached to the fetus
Right and left Iliac Regions: (Iliac = refers to the hip bone)
Hypogastric Region: (Hypogastric = means below the stomach) – the entire lower region of the abdomen is also referred to as the groin or inguinal area

21. Peritoneum
Peritoneum: the membrane that protects and supports (suspends in place) the organs located in the abdominal cavity
Parietal Peritoneum: the outer layer of this membrane that lines the abdominal cavity
Visceral Peritoneum: the inner layer of this membrane that surrounds the organs of the abdominal cavity
Visceral: means relating to the internal organs (those enclosed within a cavity) especially the abdominal organs
Mesentery: a layer of the peritoneum that suspends parts of the intestine within the abdominal cavity
Retroperitoneal: means located behind the peritoneum of the abdominal cavity
Peritonitis: inflammation of the peritoneum
Ascites: an abnormal accumulation of clear or milky serous (watery) fluid in the peritoneal cavity

23. Laparoscopic Procedures
Laparoscopy: the visual examination of the interior of the abdomen with the use of a laparoscope
Laparoscopic surgery involves the use of a laparoscope plus instruments inserted into the abdomen through small incisions – used to
Explore and examine the interior of the abdomen
Take specimens to be biopsied
Perform surgical procedures (i.e. - gastric by-pass)

25. ENDOSCOPY
Visualization through a body opening such as the mouth or nose.

26. ARTHROSCOPY
Visualization into a joint.