Human Body & Directional Terms

Body Cavities

Abdominal Cavity• Contains the stomach, intestines, liver,

spleen, gallbladder, pancreas, ureters, kidneys• Ventral body cavity

• Ventral means toward the front of the body

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

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

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

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

Pleural Cavity• Space around each lung

Directional Terms

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.

Directional Terms• Anatomical plane

• And imaginary flat pate or field• Provide further division of the body, to identify a

specific location or area

Frontal or Coronal Plane• A vertical plane

dividing the body into anterior and posterior portions

• Anterior means front

• Posterior refers to the back

Mid-sagittal plane• A vertical plane• Divides the body

into equal right and left halves at the body’s midpoint

Sagittal Plane• A vertical plane• Passes from front to

back• Divides body into

unequal right and left sides

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

Opposites • Ventral

• Anterior• Refers to the front

of the body• Dorsal

• Posterior• Refers to the back

of the body

Opposites • Cephalad

• Above the waistline

• “head” or “upward”

• Superior – “above”

• Cephalic means toward the head

• Caudal – latin for tail• Below the

waistline• Inferior, below

Opposites • Superior and inferior

• Used to describe body parts in relation to one another in general

• Superior – above• Inferior - below

Opposites • Lateral

• Refers to the sides of the body

• Medial • Refers to the

middle of the body

Opposites • Distal

• 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

Miscellaneous • Ipsilateral

• Pertains to one side

• The same side• Mediolateral

• Pertaining to the middle and one side

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

Abdominal Regions - 9• Hypochondriac

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

Abdominal Quadrants - 4• Left upper 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

Positions • Erect

• a standing position• Lateral recumbent

• lying on left side with right thigh and knee drawn up to chest

• Prone • lying face down

• Supine • lying flat on your back

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

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