1. Human Body & Directional Terms

2. Body Cavities

3. Abdominal Cavity
Contains the stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, gallbladder, pancreas, ureters, kidneys
Ventral body cavity
Ventral means toward the front of the body

4. Cranial Cavity The cavity inside the skull, or the cranium
Space within the skull containing the brain, protects the brain
Cranial means “pertaining to the skull”
Dorsal body cavity
Dorsal means toward the back of the body

5. Pelvic Cavity
Contains the urinary bladder, urethra, uterus, and vagina in the female, part of the large intestine and the rectum
Ventral body cavity
Space below the abdomen
Protects the reproductive organs

6. Spinal Cavity
Consist of the spinal column connecting to the cranial cavity
Space within the spinal column (backbone) containing the spinal cord
Dorsal body cavity

7. Thoracic or chest cavity
Contains the esophagus, trachea, lungs, heart and aorta
Can be divided into two smaller areas
The pleural cavity surrounds the lungs
The mediastinum is the area between the lungs, containing the heart, aorta, trachea, esophagus, and thymus gland
Ventral body cavity

8. Pleural Cavity
Space around each lung

9. Directional Terms

10. Directional Terms
Used to pinpoint or specifically locate an area on the body
Anatomical position is the body standing, arms at each side, with palms facing forward and the feet side by side.

11. Directional Terms Anatomical plane And imaginary flat pate or field
Provide further division of the body, to identify a specific location or area

12. Frontal or Coronal Plane
A vertical plane dividing the body into anterior and posterior portions
Anterior means front
Posterior refers to the back

13. Mid-sagittal plane A vertical plane
Divides the body into equal right and left halves at the body’s midpoint

14. Sagittal Plane A vertical plane Passes from front to back
Divides body into unequal right and left sides

15. Transverse Plane
A horizontal (cross- section) plane, parallel to the ground and through the waistline
Divides the body into upper and lower halves or superior and inferior halves

16. Opposites Ventral Dorsal Anterior Refers to the front of the body
Posterior
Refers to the back of the body

17. Opposites Cephalad Caudal – latin for tail Above the waistline
“head” or “upward”
Superior – “above”
Cephalic means toward the head
Caudal – latin for tail
Below the waistline
Inferior, below

18. Opposites Superior and inferior
Used to describe body parts in relation to one another in general
Superior – above
Inferior - below

19. Opposites Lateral Medial Refers to the sides of the body
Refers to the middle of the body

20. Opposites Distal Proximal
Away from the point of origin or center of body
The foot would be the distal portion of the leg
Proximal
Refers to ‘nearest the point of origin’ or center of body. Close proximity
The upper thigh would be the proximal portion of the leg

21. Miscellaneous Ipsilateral Mediolateral Pertains to one side
The same side
Mediolateral
Pertaining to the middle and one side

22. Anatomical divisions of the abdomen
Used to describe the regions in which organs and structures are found
Used to diagnose abdominal problems with greater accuracy

23. Abdominal Regions - 9 Hypochondriac region Epigastric region
Upper lateral regions beneath the ribs
Epigastric region
Region of the stomach and heart
Lumbar region
Two middle lateral regions
Umbilical region
Region of the navel or umbilicus
Inguinal (iliac) region
Lower lateral regions
Hypogastric region
Lower middle region, below the umbilicus

25. Abdominal Quadrants - 4 Left upper quadrant Left lower quadrant
LUQ
Contains the left lobe of the liver, stomach, pancreas, spleen, and parts of the small and large intestines
Left lower quadrant
LLQ
Contains parts of the small & large intestines, left ureters, left ovary, and fallopian tube
Right upper quadrant
RUQ
Contains the right lobe of the liver, gallbladder, and parts of the small and large intestines
Right lower quadrant
RLQ
Contains parts of the small and large intestines, appendix, right ureters, right ovary, and fallopian tube

27. Positions Erect Lateral recumbent Prone Supine a standing position
lying on left side with right thigh and knee drawn up to chest
Prone
lying face down
Supine
lying flat on your back

28. Positions Sims’ position Semi-prone side position
Lying on the left side with the right thigh and knee sharply flexed; left leg straight
The lower arm (left) is behind the person
Pillow is under the person’s head and shoulder
Usually not comfortable for older persons

29. Positions Fowler’s position Semi-sitting
The head of the bed is raised between 45 and 60 degrees
Spine is straight
Head is supported with a small pillow