1. 6.2 Body Planes, Directions, and Cavities
Body Planes: Imaginary lines drawn through the body at various parts to separate the body into sections
3 Main Body Planes
Transverse, Midsagittal, and Frontal
Transverse Plane: Horizontal plane divides the body into a top half and a bottom half
Superior – Body parts above other parts
Inferior – Body parts below other parts
2 other directional terms related to this plane are:
Cranial – body parts near the head
Caudal – body parts near the sacral region (tail)

2. Planes Continued Midsagittal or Median Plane
Divides body into left and right sides
Body parts close to midline called medial
Body parts away from the midline are called lateral
Frontal or Coronal Plane
Divides the body into a front section and back section
Body parts in front of plane are called Anterior or Ventral
Body parts on back of body are called Posterior or Dorsal

3. More Directional Terms
They describe the location of the extremities in relation to the main trunk of the body ( called the point of reference)
Proximal – Body parts close to the point of reference (trunk)
Distal – Body parts distant from the point of reference (Trunk)
Examples: The wrist is distal to the shoulder
The elbow is proximal to the shoulder

4. Body Cavities Spaces within the body that contain vital organs
2 Main Body Cavities:
Anterior or Ventral
Posterior or Dorsal
Anterior or Ventral cavity is larger than the dorsal
Separated by 2 distinct cavities which are separated by the diaphragm (dome-shaped muscle) into the Thoracic Cavity and
Abdominal-Pelvic Cavity

5. Body Cavities Continued
Abdominal-Pelvic Cavity – Divided into an upper and lower part
Upper Abdominal Cavity: stomach, small intestine, most of the large intestine, appendix, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen
Pelvic Cavity - Lower Abdominal Cavity: Urinary Bladder, reproductive organ, and last part of large intestine.
Three Small Cavities:
Orbital – Eyes
Nasal – Nose structures
Buccal(Mouth) – Teeth and Tongue
See Figure 6-6 Body Cavities