1. The Human Body: An Orientation1
P A R T B
The Human Body: An Orientation

2. Anatomical Position
Body erect, feet slightly apart, palms facing forward, thumbs point away from body
Figure 1.7a

3. Directional Terms
__________________________– toward and away from the head, respectively
__________________________– toward the front and back of the body
__________________________– toward the midline, away from the midline, and between a more medial and lateral structure

4. Directional Terms
__________________________– closer to and farther from the origin of the body part
__________________________– toward and away from the body surface

5. Directional Terms
Table 1.1a

6. Directional Terms
Table 1.1b

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)
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

8. 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

9. Body Planes
_____________– divides the body into right and left parts
__________________________– sagittal plane that lies on the midline
__________________________– divides the body into anterior and posterior parts
__________________________ (cross section) – divides the body into superior and inferior parts
__________________________– cuts made diagonally

10. Body Planes
Figure 1.8

11. Anatomical Variability
Humans vary slightly in both external and internal anatomy
Over _____________of all anatomical structures match textbook descriptions, but:
Nerves or blood vessels may be somewhat _____________
Small muscles may be _____________
Extreme anatomical variations are seldom seen

12. Body Cavities
Dorsal cavity protects the _____________, and is divided into two subdivisions
_____________– within the skull; encases the _____________
_____________– runs within the vertebral column; encases the _____________
Ventral cavity houses the internal organs (viscera), and is divided into two subdivisions
________________

13. 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

14. 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

15. Body Cavities
Thoracic cavity is subdivided into two pleural cavities, the mediastinum, and the pericardial cavity
Pleural cavities – each houses a _____________
Mediastinum – contains the pericardial cavity; surrounds the remaining _____________
Pericardial cavity – encloses the _____________

16. It is composed of two subdivisions
Body Cavities
The _______________________ is separated from the superior thoracic cavity by the dome-shaped _______________________
It is composed of two subdivisions
Abdominal cavity – contains the _______________________ _______________________
Pelvic cavity – lies within the pelvis and contains the _______________________ _______________________ ________________

17. Ventral Body Cavity Membranes
Parietal serosa lines _______________________
Visceral serosa covers the _______________________
Serous fluid separates the _______________________

18. Serous Membrane Relationship
Figure 1.10a

19. Heart Serosae
Figure 1.10b

20. Other Body Cavities
_______________________– mouth and cavities of the digestive organs
_______________________ –located within and posterior to the nose
_______________________– house the eyes
_______________________– contains bones (ossicles) that transmit sound vibrations
_______________________– joint cavities

21. Other Body Cavities
Figure 1.13

22. Abdominopelvic Regions
Figure 1.11a

23. Organs of the Abdominopelvic Regions
Figure 1.11b

24. Abdominopelvic Quadrants
Right upper
Left upper
Right lower
Left lower
Figure 1.12