1. Body Planes, Directions, and Cavities

2. ► Because terms such as south and east would be difficult to apply to the human body, other directional terms have been developed ► These terms are used to describe the relationship of one part of the body to another part ► The terms relating to body planes, directions, and cavities are used frequently in the study of human anatomy

3. Planes, Directions and Cavities ► Body planes  Imaginary lines drawn through body at various parts to separate body into sections  Directional terms are created by these planes  Three main planes ► Transverse ► Midsagittal ► Frontal

4. Transverse or Horizontal Midsagittal or Median Frontal or Coronal http://student.brighton.ac.uk/anatomy/body_planes.htm Superior Dorsal / Posterior Ventral / Anterior Medial Inferior Lateral

5. Transverse Plane ► Horizontal plane divides the body into top and bottom halves ► Body parts above other parts are termed superior ► Body parts below other parts are termed inferior ► For instance: knee is superior to ankle, but inferior to hip ► Two other directional terms related to this plane includes  Cranial – body parts located near the head  Caudal – body parts located near the sacral region of the spinal column (also known as the “tail”)

6. Midsagittal (or Median) Plane ► Divides the body into right and left sides ► Body parts close to the midline, or plane, are called medial ► Body parts away from the midline are called lateral

7. Frontal (or Coronal) Plane ► Divides the body into front and back sections ► Body parts in front of plane, or on the front of the body are called ventral, or anterior ► Body parts in back of plane, or on the back of the body are called dorsal, or posterior

8. Planes, Directions and Cavities ► Two other directional terms are:  Proximal  Distal ► These terms are used to describe the location of the extremities in relation to the main trunk of the body (generally called the point of reference) ► Body parts close to the point of reference are called proximal ► Body parts distant from the point of reference are called distal

9. Body Cavities http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Illu_body_cavities.jpg

10. Planes, Directions and Cavities ► Body cavities  Spaces within body that contain vital organs  Two main body cavities ► Dorsal or posterior  One long, continuous cavity located on back of body  Divided into two sections: cranial, which contains the brain, and the spinal cavity, which contains the spinal cord

11. Planes, Directions and Cavities ► Body cavities ► Ventral or anterior  Larger than dorsal cavities  Separated into two distinct cavities by diaphragm  Thoracic cavity is located in chest and contains esophagus, trachea, bronchi, lungs, heart, and large blood vessels  Abdominal cavity is divided into upper and lower parts ► Upper abdominal cavity contains stomach, small intestine, most of large intestine, appendix, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen ► Lower abdominal cavity, or pelvic cavity, contains the urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and the last part of the large intestine ► Three small cavities are orbital, nasal, and buccal, or oral

12. Abdominal Regions ► Abdominal regions  Abdominal cavity is so large it is divided into regions  One method is into quadrants (RUQ, LUQ, RLQ, LLQ)  Another method is into regions

13. Abdominal Regions ► Center regions  Epigastric (above stomach)  Umbilical (near the umbilicus)  Hypogastric (below stomach) ► Either side of center regions  Hypochondriac (below ribs)  Lumbar (near large bones of spinal column)  Iliac, or inguinal (near the groin)

14. Quadrants versus Regions http://anatomy.med.umich.edu/abdomen/abdo_wall_ans.html