2. Basic body planes and sections
Anatomy and Physiology
Basic body planes and sections

3. Basic body planes and sections
Body sections are necessary to look at the internal structures of the body.
When a section is made through the body wall or through an organ, it is made along an imaginary line called plane.
The body has three types of planes or sections.

4. Body Sections
The most frequently used body planes are sagittal, frontal and transverse which are at right angles to each other.
1. A sagittal section divides the body into right and left portions. If it passes along the midline and divides the body into equal parts it is a median or midsagittal section.
2. A transverse section divides the body into superior and inferior portions. It is often called a “cross section”.
3. A coronal or frontal section divides the body into anterior and posterior sections.

5. These terms are used for planes or sections that cut the body, organs, tissues, or cells

6. Midsagital (Median)
Frontal (coronal)
Transverse

7. Transverse
Midsagital (Median)
Frontal (coronal)

8. Example of how planes would cut the brain

9. MRI Abdomen Anatomy

10. Example of how planes would cut the body

11. Body Cavities

12. Dorsal body cavity
Dorsal body cavity is divided into a cranial cavity which encases the brain, and the vertebral cavity which encases the spinal cord.

13. Ventral body cavity The ventral body cavity houses the visceral organs
The ventral body cavity is divided into the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities

14. Thoracic Cavity
The thoracic cavity is surrounded by the ribs and muscles of the chest
It is further divided into
pleural cavities
mediastinum
pericardial

15. Abdominopelvic Cavity
Abdominopelvic cavity lies below a dome-shaped muscle, the diaphragm
It is further divided into .
Abdominal cavity
Stomach, intestines, liver
Pelvic cavity
Bladder, rectum, and some reproductive organs

16. Body regions
The abdominal area can be divided into nine regions – epigastric, right and left hypochondriac, umbilical, right and left lumbar, hypogastric, and right and left inguinal or iliac 16

17. Body regions, cont
The abdominal area can also be divided into four quadrants – right and left upper quadrants and right and left lower quadrants. 17

18. Abdominopelvic Major Organs
Anterior view of the ventral body cavities showing superficial organs.