1. Body Planes and Cavities
Principles of Health Science

2. Standard Anatomical Position

3. Body Planes
Imaginary lines drawn through body to separate the body into section.
Directional terms create planes
Three main body planes: Transverse, Midsagittal (median), frontal (coronal) plane

4. Transverse Plane Horizontal plane
Divides the body into a top half and bottom half
Directional terms associated with transverse:
Superior – body parts above
Inferior – body parts below

5. Midsagittal (median) Plane
Divides the body into a right and left side
Directional terms associated with midsagittal:
Medial – body parts close to midline
Lateral – body parts away from the midline

6. Frontal or Coronal Plane
Divides the body into front section and back section
Directional terms associated with frontal:
Ventral or Anterior – body parts in front of plane or in front of the body
Dorsal or Posterior – body parts in back of plane or in back of body

7. Directional Terms

8. Directional Terms
Extremities in relation to trunk (point of reference)
Proximal – body part closest to point of reference
Distal – body part farther or most distant from the point of reference
Example: Relationship between wrist, elbow and shoulder, with shoulder being the point of reference.
Wrist is distal to elbow
Elbow is proximal to shoulder

9. Body Cavities Spaces within body that contain vital organs
Two main body cavities: Dorsal Cavity and Ventral Cavity

10. Dorsal Cavity One long, continuous cavity located on back of body
Divided into two sections:
Cranial Cavity – contains the brain
Spinal Cavity – contains the spinal cord

11. Ventral Cavity
Larger than dorsal cavity, separated into two cavities by the diaphragm.
Thoracic Cavity: located in the chest and contains heart, lungs and large blood vessels
Abdominal Cavity: divided into upper and lower part
Upper Abdominal Cavity – contains stomach, small intestine, most of large intestine, liver, gallbladder, pancreas and spleen

12. Ventral Cavity, cont.
Lower Abdominal Cavity or pelvic cavity – contains urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and last part of the intestines

13. Additional Cavities Three small cavities Orbital cavity: contains eyes
Nasal cavity: contains nose structures
Buccal cavity: contains mouth