1. Anatomic References

2. Anatomic References TABLE OF CONTENTS
Lessons 1. Body Planes and Directions Go 2. Body Cavities Go
TABLE OF CONTENTS

3. Lesson 1– Body Direction
Health care workers need to be able to clearly identify areas of the body. They must do so in order to correctly apply treatments, injections, and diagnoses.
Such directional terms are based on anatomical position. In this position, the body is upright and facing forward, with the arms at the sides and the palms toward the front.
Body Direction
Health care workers need to be able to clearly identify areas of the body. They must do so in order to correctly apply treatments, injections, and diagnoses. Traditional directions, such as north and east, do not work well for this purpose. Instead, other directional terms have been created that describe the relationship of one body part to another.
Such directional terms are based on anatomical position. In this position, the body is upright and facing forward, with the arms at the sides and the palms toward the front.

4. Lesson 1– Body Planes
Body planes are imaginary lines drawn through the body. They separate the body into sections and are used to create directional terms.
The three body planes are:
Transverse
Midsagittal
Frontal
Body Planes
Body planes are imaginary lines drawn through the body. They separate the body into sections and are used to create directional terms. The three body planes are:
Transverse
Midsagittal
Frontal

5. Lesson 1– Transverse Plane and Related Directional Terms
The transverse plane is horizontal and divides the body into a top half and a bottom half.
Body parts above other parts are called superior.
Body parts below other body parts are called inferior.
Two other terms related to this plane also refer to direction.
Cranial refers to body parts toward the head.
Caudal refers to body parts toward the lower end of the spine or feet.
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Transverse Plane and Related Directional Terms
The transverse plane is horizontal and divides the body into a top half and a bottom half.
Body parts above other parts are called superior.
Body parts below other body parts are called inferior.
For example, the hips are superior to the knees, but they are inferior to the shoulders.
Two other terms related to this plane also refer to direction.
Cranial refers to body parts toward the head.
Caudal refers to body parts toward the lower end of the spine or feet.

6. Lesson 1– Midsaggital Plane and Related Directional Terms
The midsaggital plane is also known as the median plane or the midline.
The midsaggital plane is vertical and divides the body into equal right and left halves.
Body parts toward this plane are called medial.
Body parts away from this plane are called lateral.
Midsaggital Plane and Related Directional Terms
The midsaggital plane is also known as the median plane or the midline. It is vertical and divides the body into equal right and left halves.
Body parts toward this plane are called medial.
Body parts away from this plane are called lateral.
For example, the eyes are medial to the ears, but they are lateral to the nose.

7. Lesson 1– Frontal Plane and Related Directional Terms
The frontal plane is also known as the coronal plane.
The frontal plane is vertical. It divides the body into front and back sections.
Body parts toward the front section are called ventral, or anterior.
Body parts toward the back section are called dorsal, or posterior.
Frontal Plane and Related Directional Terms
The frontal plane is also known as the coronal plane. Like the midsagittal plane, the frontal plane is also vertical. However, it divides the body into front and back sections.
Body parts toward the front section are called ventral, or anterior.
Body parts toward the back section are called dorsal, or posterior.
For example, the toes are on the ventral part of the foot, while the heel is on the dorsal part of the foot.

8. Lesson 1– Other Directional Terms
Two other terms are used to describe the location of a body part in relation to the point of attachment, or point of reference.
Body parts toward the point of attachment are called proximal.
Body parts distant from this point are called distal.
Other Directional Terms
Two other terms are used to describe the location of a body part in relation to the point of attachment, or point of reference. They are mostly used to describe the location of the extremities, or arms and legs, in relation to the main trunk of the body.
Body parts toward the point of attachment are called proximal.
Body parts distant from this point are called distal.
For example, when describing the wrist and elbow in relation to the shoulder, the elbow is proximal while the wrist is distal.

9. Lesson 2– Body Cavities
Body cavities are spaces within the body that contain vital organs.
The two major cavities in the body are the dorsal and ventral cavities.
The dorsal cavity is a long, continuous cavity located on the back of the body.
The ventral cavity is located on the front side of the body.
Body Cavities
Body cavities are spaces within the body that contain vital organs.
The two major cavities in the body are the dorsal and ventral cavities.
The dorsal cavity is a long, continuous cavity located on the back of the body.
The ventral cavity is located on the front side of the body.

10. Lesson 2– Dorsal Cavity
The dorsal cavity is divided into two sections:
The cranial cavity contains the brain.
The spinal cavity contains the spinal cord.
Dorsal Cavity
The dorsal cavity is divided into two sections, the cranial and spinal cavities.
The cranial cavity contains the brain.
The spinal cavity contains the spinal cord.

11. Lesson 2– Ventral Cavity
The ventral cavity is divided into three sections:
The thoracic cavity contains the trachea, esophagus, bronchi, lungs, heart, and major blood vessels. It is also known as the chest cavity.
The abdominal cavity contains the stomach, small intestine, most of the large intestine, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen.
The pelvic cavity contains the reproductive organs, bladder, and rectum.
Ventral Cavity
The ventral cavity is divided into three sections, the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities.
The thoracic cavity contains the trachea, esophagus, bronchi, lungs, heart, and major blood vessels. It is also known as the chest cavity. The diaphragm is a muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity.
The abdominal cavity contains the stomach, small intestine, most of the large intestine, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen.
The pelvic cavity contains the reproductive organs, bladder, and rectum.

12. Lesson 2– Small Body Cavities
The orbital cavity contains the eye structures.
The nasal cavity contains the parts that form the nose.
The oral cavity, or buccal cavity, contains the teeth and the tongue in the mouth.
Small Body Cavities
In addition to the cranial cavity, the skull includes other smaller cavities.
The orbital cavity contains the eye structures.
The nasal cavity contains the parts that form the nose.
The oral cavity, or buccal cavity, contains the teeth and the tongue in the mouth.

13. Lesson 2– Abdominal Regions: Quadrants
Because the abdominal cavity is so large, it helps to divide it into regions.
One method of division results in quadrants, or four regions:
Right upper quadrant (RUQ)
Left upper quadrant (LUQ)
Right lower quadrant (RLQ)
Left lower quadrant (LLQ)
Abdominal Regions: Quadrants
Because the abdominal cavity is so large, it helps to divide it into regions. Regions can be used to describe where an organ, injury, or pain is located.
One method of division results in quadrants, or four regions. The regions are named as follows:
Right upper quadrant (RUQ)
Left upper quadrant (LUQ)
Right lower quadrant (RLQ)
Left lower quadrant (LLQ)

14. Lesson 2– Abdominal Regions: Nine Regions
Another method of dividing the abdominal cavity results in nine regions:
Epigastric – above the stomach
Umbilical – near the umbilicus
Hypogastric – below the stomach
Left Hypochondriac – below the ribs, left side
Right Hypochondriac – below the ribs, right side
Left Lumbar – near the waist, left side
Right Lumbar – near the waist, right side
Left Iliac – near the hips, left side
Right Iliac – near the hips, right side
Abdominal Regions: Nine Regions
Another method of dividing the abdominal cavity results in nine regions.
The central regions are named as follows:
Epigastric (above the stomach)
Umbilical (near the umbilicus, or belly button)
Hypogastric, or pelvic (below the stomach)
The names of the regions on either side of the central regions are always preceded by either “left” or “right.” The side regions are named as follows:
Hypochondriac (below the ribs)
Lumbar (near the waist)
Iliac, or inguinal (near the hips)