1. Body Planes, Directions, Cavities, and Regional Terminology
An Introduction to
Body Planes, Directions, Cavities, and Regional Terminology

2. Introduction
LMAO!
Anatomic reference systems describe the location and functions of body parts. The basic reference systems are:
body planes
body directions
body regions
body cavities

3. Objectives understand the how 3 body planes divide the human body
Be able to use directional terminology in describing different areas of the body
Identify and recognize body regions
Gain a working understanding of body cavities and the organs they house

4. Anatomical Position and Regional Terms

5. Anatomical Position
Person stands erect with feet together and eyes forward
Palms face anteriorly with thumbs pointed away from the body
Right and left always refers to the sides belonging to the person or specimen being viewed – never to the viewer
Note: four legged animals have a different anatomical position than humans
Their ventral is on the inferior side and dorsal in on the superior side
In humans ventral and anterior is the same and so is dorsal and posterior

6. Directional Terminology
1. Anterior = body parts on the front of the body
2. Posterior = body parts on the back of the body
The frontal plane divides the body into “anterior” and “posterior” regions.

7. Directional Terminology
Cranial or Superior = body parts near the head
Caudal or Inferior = body parts located near the sacrum, or tail bone.
Cranial
Caudal

8. Directional Terminology
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

9. Lateral and Medial
Lateral referrs to

10. Directional Terminology
Proximal = body parts close to the point of reference
Distal = body parts away from the point of reference

12. In Summary…

13. What is a “Plane?”
A “body plane”is an imaginary line drawn through the body which separates it into sections.

14. Body Planes: The Sagittal Plane
-The Sagittal Plane Divides the body into right and left sides

15. Body Planes: The Frontal Plane
The “Frontal Plane” divides the body into front and back section. The frontal plane is sometimes called the “Coronal Plane.”

16. Body Planes: The Transverse Plane
The “transverse Plane” divides the body into sections above and below the midline.

18. The Orange activity
Use a marker to label the top and bottom of your orange.
Draw a line around the orange which represents the transverse plane. Label.
Draw a line around the orange which represents the frontal or coronal plane. Label.
Draw a line around the orange which represents the Sagittal Plane. Label.

19. The Orange activity
Cut the orange in half along the transverse plane. When Finished, use a toothpick to put the orange back together.
Cut the orange in half along coronal plane. When Finished, use toothpicks to put the orange back together.
Cut the orange in half along the Sagittal Plane. When Finished, use toothpicks to put the orange back together.

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

21. Abdominal Regions: Epigastric Umbilical Pelvic Hypochondriac Lateral
Inguinal

23. Abdominal Regions

24. Body Cavities: The Dorsal Cavity
-A long continuous cavity that is located on the back (or posterior) of the body, divided into two sections
Cranial Cavity = contains the brain
Spinal Cavity = contains the spinal cord

25. Divisions of the Spinal Cord
Cervical vertebrae: C
Thoracic vertebrae: T
Lumbar vertebrae: L
Sacrum: S

26. Body Cavities: The Anterior
Larger and separated into 2 distinct cavities by a dome-shaped muscle called the diaphragm, which is important for breathing.
Thoracic Cavity = located in the chest, contains the heart, lungs, and the large blood vessels

27. Pericardial, Pleural, Peritoneal
Figure 1.7

29. Body Cavities: The Anterior
2. Abdominal Cavity = divided into quadrants…
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

31. Body Cavities: The Anterior

32. Body Cavities: Review

33. Practice Quiz: Can YOU Name these Body Cavities?

34. Body Cavities
Cranial
Thoracic
Spinal
Diaphragm
Adbdominal
Pelvic

35. That’s all Folks!

36. Clinical Anatomy: An Introduction to Medical Imaging Techniqes
Traditional more non-invasive method of diagnosis
X-rays (electromagnetic waves) directed at the body
Some x-rays are absorbed: amount of absorption depends on the density of matter encountered
Radiograph image: negative
Darker exposed areas represent soft organs (easily penetrated)
Light, unexposed areas correspond to denser structures such as bones
Contrast medium: solution with heavy elements (i.e. barium)
Used to view soft tissue organs
Advanced X-Ray techniques use computer-assisted imaging technologies

37. Radiography X ray: electromagnetic waves of very short length
Best for visualizing bones and abnormal dense structures
Radiography
Heart
(a) Radiograph of the chest
(b) Mammogram (cancerous
tumor at arrow)
Clavicles
(collarbones)
Air in
lungs
(black)
Ribs
Diaphragm
Figure 1.10

38. Advanced Medical Imaging: Computed (Axial) Tomography (CT or CAT)
Takes successive X rays around a person’s circumference
Translates recorded information into a detailed picture of the section
Inferior
vena cava
Right
Left
Liver
Colon
Stomach
Aorta
Spleen
kidney
Thoracic
vertebra
View

39. Contrast X-rays
Contrast media make hollow or fluid-filled structures visible
Media can be introduced by injection, orally, or rectally
Depends on the structure imaged
Barium contrast x-ray showing a cancer of the ascending colon (arrow)

40. Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA)
A contrast medium given: images taken ‘before’ and ‘after’
Computer processes the x-ray images and subtracts the differences
Eliminates all traces of body structures that obscure the vessel
Identify blockages of arteries that supply the heart or brain
Figure 1.12

41. PET (Positron Emission Tomography): accesses functional flow of blood to the heart & brain
Produces images by detecting radioactive isotopes injected into the body
Decaying isotopes emits gamma rays
Detected by sensors, translated into impulses and sent to a computer
Active areas receiving more blood light up
Figure 1.13

42. Sonography (Ultrasound Imaging)
Figure 1.14
Pulses of high frequency (ultrasonic) sound waves reflect (echo) off tissue
Computer analyzes the echoes to construct sectional images
Inexpensive/safer technique but not used for viewing air-filled structures or structures surrounded by bone

43. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
High-energy magnetic field causes protons (H+) in tissues and fluids to align in relation to the field
Pulse of radio waves emitted to misalign H+
As they realign with the magnet a radio wave is again emitted
Sensors ‘read’ these ion patterns, computerized signals produce detailed images of soft tissues

44. Endoscopy Endoscope: lighted instrument with lenses
Used for visual examination of the inside of body organs or cavities
Colonoscopy: interior of the colon
Arthroscopy: interior of a joint
Laparoscopy: interior of abdominopelvic organs
Interior view of the colon as shown by colonoscopy