1. Body Planes, Directions, and Cavities

2. Body Planes, Directions, and Cavities
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
Superior
Medial
Lateral
Inferior
Transverse or Horizontal
Midsagittal or Median
Frontal or Coronal
Ventral /
Anterior
Dorsal /
Posterior

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

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 Either side of 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