• TERMINOLOGY

AND THE BODY

PL ANES
DIRECTIONAL TERMS:
DIRECTIONAL TERMS:

• Directional terms are words used to describe

the location of an anatomical structure by
comparing its position to other structures
within the body or within the orientation of the
body itself.
DIRECTIONAL TERMS
• Anterior (or ventral) Describes the front or
direction toward the front of the body. The toes are
anterior to the foot.
• Posterior (or dorsal) Describes the back or
direction toward the back of the body. The popliteus
is posterior to the patella.
• Superior (or cranial) describes a position above or
higher than another part of the body proper. The
orbits are superior to the oris.
DIRECTIONAL TERMS
• Inferior (or caudal) describes a position below or
lower than another part of the body proper; near or
toward the tail (in humans, the coccyx, or lowest part
of the spinal column). The pelvis is inferior to the
abdomen.
• Lateral describes the side or direction toward the side
of the body. The thumb (pollex) is lateral to the digits.
• Medial describes the middle or direction toward the
middle of the body. The hallux is the medial toe.
DIRECTIONAL TERMS
• Proximal describes a position in a limb that is nearer to the
point of attachment or the trunk of the body. The brachium
is proximal to the antebrachium.
• Distal describes a position in a limb that is farther from the
point of attachment or the trunk of the body. The crus is
distal to the femur.
• Superficial describes a position closer to the surface of the
body. The skin is superficial to the bones.
• Deep describes a position farther from the surface of the
body. The brain is deep to the skull.
DIRECTIONAL
TERMS
APPLIED TO
THE HUMAN
BODY PAIRED
BODY PLANES/SECTIONS
 BODY PLANES
•A plane is an imaginary two-
dimensional surface that passes
through the body. There are three
planes commonly referred to in
anatomy and medicine.
BODY PLANES
• The sagittal plane is the plane that divides the
body or an organ vertically into right and left
sides. If this vertical plane runs directly down
the middle of the body, it is called the
midsagittal or median plane. If it divides the
body into unequal right and left sides, it is
called a parasagittal plane or less commonly a
longitudinal section.
BODY PLANES

• The frontal plane is the plane that divides the

body or an organ into an anterior (front) portion
and a posterior (rear) portion. The frontal plane
is often referred to as a coronal plane.
(“Corona” is Latin for “crown.”)
BODY PLANES

• The transverse plane is the plane that

divides the body or organ horizontally into
upper and lower portions. Transverse
planes produce images referred to as cross
sections.
PLANES OF THE
BODY THE THREE
PLANES MOST
COMMONLY USED
IN ANATOMICAL
AND MEDICAL
IMAGING ARE THE:
1. SAGITTAL
2. FRONTAL (OR
3. CORONAL), AND
TRANSVERSE
PLANE.
BODY CAVITIES
• These cavities contain and protect delicate internal
organs, and the ventral cavity allows for significant
changes in the size and shape of the organs as they
perform their functions. The lungs, heart, stomach,
and intestines, for example, can expand and
contract without distorting other tissues or
disrupting the activity of nearby organs.
BODY CAVITIES
BODY CAVITIES
• The body maintains its internal organization by means of
membranes, sheaths, and other structures that separate
compartments:
The dorsal (posterior) cavity and the
Ventral (anterior) cavity are the largest body compartments
BODY CAVITIES
• CRANIAL
The cranial cavity is
the anterior portion
of the dorsal cavity
consisting of the
space inside the
skull. This cavity
contains the brain,
the meninges of the
brain, and
cerebrospinal fluid.
• VERTEBRAL
The vertebral cavity is the
posterior portion of the
dorsal cavity and contains
the structures within the
vertebral column. These
include the spinal cord, the
meninges of the spinal cord,
and the fluid-filled spaces
between them. This is the
most narrow of all body
cavities, sometimes
described as threadlike.
• VENTRAL
The ventral cavity, the interior
space in the front of the body,
contains many different organ
systems. The organs within
the ventral cavity are also
called viscera. The ventral
cavity has anterior and
posterior portions divided by
the diaphragm, a sheet of
skeletal muscle found beneath
the lungs.
• THORACIC
The thoracic cavity is the
anterior ventral body cavity
found within the rib cage in
the torso. It houses the
primary organs of the
cardiovascular and
respiratory systems, such as
the heart and lungs, but also
includes organs from other
systems, such as the
esophagus and the thymus
gland.
•ABDOMINOPELVIC
The Abdominopelvic cavity is the
posterior ventral body cavity found
beneath the thoracic cavity and
diaphragm. It is generally divided into
the abdominal and pelvic cavities. The
abdominal cavity is not contained
within bone and houses many organs
of the digestive and renal systems, as
well as some organs of the endocrine
system, such as the adrenal glands.
The pelvic cavity is contained within
the pelvis and houses the bladder and
reproductive system.
Subdivisions of the
Posterior (Dorsal) and
Anterior (Ventral)
Cavities
The posterior (dorsal) and
anterior (ventral) cavities
are each subdivided into
smaller cavities. In the
posterior (dorsal) cavity,
the cranial cavity houses
the brain, and the spinal
cavity (or vertebral cavity)
encloses the spinal cord.
ABDOMINAL REGIONS
AND QUADRANTS
ABDOMINAL REGIONS AND
QUADRANTS
• To promote clear communication, for instance
about the location of a patient’s abdominal pain
or a suspicious mass, health care providers
typically divide up the cavity into either nine
regions or four quadrants
 ABDOMINAL NINE DIVISIONS

• The nine divisions of the abdominopelvic region are

smaller than the four quadrants, allowing for a more
detailed discussion. These divisions are marked by two
parasagittal and two transverse planes centered around the
navel. Most organs are part of multiple regions, including
the gallbladder, duodenum, stomach, kidneys, spleen, small
intestine and colon. The perineum (the area beneath the
hypogastric region at the bottom of the pelvic cavity) is
sometimes considered to be a tenth division in this system.
Right Hypochondriac
• The right hypochondriac region contains the right portion of the
liver, the gallbladder, the right kidney, and parts of the small
intestine.
Left Hypochondriac
• The left hypochondriac region contains part of the spleen, the left
kidney, part of the stomach, the pancreas, and parts of the colon.
Epigastric
• The epigastric (above stomach) region contains the majority of the
stomach, part of the liver, part of the pancreas, part of the
duodenum, part of the spleen, and the adrenal glands. This region
pushes out when the diaphragm contracts during breathing.
Right Lumbar
• The right lumbar region consists of the gallbladder, the right kidney,
part of the liver, and the ascending colon.
Left Lumbar
• The left lumbar region consists of the descending colon, the left
kidney, and part of the spleen.
Umbilical
• The umbilical region contains the umbilicus (navel), and many parts
of the small intestine, such as part of the duodenum, the jejunum, and
the illeum. It also contains the transverse colon (the section between
the ascending and descending colons) and the bottom portions of both
the left and right kidney.
Right Iliac
• The right iliac region contains the appendix, cecum, and the right
iliac fossa. It is also commonly referred to as the right inguinal
region. Pain in this area is generally associated with appendicitis.
Left Iliac
• The left illiac region contains part of the descending colon, the
sigmoid colon, and the right illiac fossa. It is also commonly called
the left inguinal region.
Hypogastric
• The hypogastric region (below the stomach) contains the organs
around the pubic bone. These include bladder, part of the sigmoid
colon, the anus, and many organs of the reproductive system, such as
the uterus and ovaries in females and the prostate in males.
REGIONS
ABDOMINAL FOUR QUADRANTS
ABDOMINAL FOUR QUADRANTS

• The abdominopelvic region can be divided into four

quadrants. These quadrants are defined by the
intersection of the saggital plane with the umbilical
plane (the transverse plane through the navel).
Clinicians use these regions to determine the organs
and tissues that may be causing pain or discomfort
in that region.
RIGHT UPPER QUADRANT

• The right upper quadrant contains the right portion of

the liver, the gallbladder, right kidney, a small portion
of the stomach, the duodenum, the head of the
pancreas, portions of the ascending and transverse
colon, and parts of small intestine. Pain in this region
is associated with infection and inflammation in the
gallbladder and liver or peptic ulcers in the stomach.
LEFT UPPER QUADRANT

• The left upper quadrant is the location of the left

portion of the liver, part of the stomach, the
pancreas, left kidney, spleen, portions of the
transverse and descending colon, and parts of the
small intestine. Pain in this region is associated
with malrotation of the intestine and colon .
RIGHT LOWER QUADRANT

• In the right lower quadrant sits the cecum,

appendix, part of the small intestines, the
right half of the female reproductive
system, and the right ureter. Pain in this
region is most commonly associated with
appendicitis.
LEFT LOWER QUADRANT

• The left lower quadrant houses the majority of the

small intestine, some of the large intestine, the left
half of the female reproductive system, and the left
ureter. Pain in this region is generally associated
with colitis (inflammation of the large intestine) as
well as pelvic inflammatory disease and ovarian
cysts in females.
FOUR QUADRANTS
SEROUS MEMBRANE
MEMBRANES OF THE ANTERIOR
(VENTRAL) BODY CAVITY
• A serous membrane (also referred to a serosa) is one
of the thin membranes that cover the walls and
organs in the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.
The parietal layers of the membranes line the walls
of the body cavity (pariet- refers to a cavity wall).
The visceral layer of the membrane covers the
organs (the viscera). Between the parietal and
visceral layers is a very thin, fluid-filled serous
space, or cavity.
SEROUS MEMBRANE
• Serous membrane lines the pericardial
cavity and reflects back to cover the heart
—much the same way that an underinflated
balloon would form two layers surrounding
a fist.
SEROUS MEMBRANE (HEART)
SEROUS MEMBRANE (STOMACH)
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS