Human Body &

Directional Terms
Body Cavities
Abdominal Cavity
• Contains the stomach, intestines, liver, spleen,
gallbladder, pancreas, ureters, kidneys
• Ventral body cavity
• Ventral means toward the front of the body
Cranial Cavity
• The cavity inside the skull, or the cranium
• Space within the skull containing the brain, protects the
brain
• Cranial means “pertaining to the skull”
• Dorsal body cavity
• Dorsal means toward the back of the body
Pelvic Cavity
• Contains the urinary bladder, urethra, uterus, and vagina
in the female, part of the large intestine and the rectum
• Ventral body cavity
• Space below the abdomen
• Protects the reproductive organs
Spinal Cavity
• Consist of the spinal column connecting to the cranial
cavity
• Space within the spinal column (backbone) containing the
spinal cord
• Dorsal body cavity
Thoracic or chest cavity
• Contains the esophagus, trachea, lungs, heart and aorta
• Can be divided into two smaller areas
• The pleural cavity surrounds the lungs
• The mediastinum is the area between the lungs,
containing the heart, aorta, trachea, esophagus, and
thymus gland
• Ventral body cavity
Pleural Cavity
• Space around each lung
Directional Terms
Directional Terms
• Used to pinpoint or
specifically locate an area
on the body
• Anatomical position is the
body standing, arms at
each side, with palms
facing forward and the
feet side by side.
Directional Terms
• Anatomical plane
• And imaginary flat pate or field
• Provide further division of the body, to identify a specific
location or area
Frontal or Coronal Plane
• A vertical plane dividing
the body into anterior and
posterior portions
• Anterior means front
• Posterior refers to the
back
Mid-sagittal plane
• A vertical plane
• Divides the body into
equal right and left halves
at the body’s midpoint
Sagittal Plane
• A vertical plane
• Passes from front to back
• Divides body into unequal
right and left sides
Transverse Plane
• A horizontal (cross-
section) plane, parallel to
the ground and through
the waistline
• Divides the body into
upper and lower halves or
superior and inferior
halves
Opposites
• Ventral
• Anterior
• Refers to the front of the
body
• Dorsal
• Posterior
• Refers to the back of the
body
Opposites
• Cephalad
• Above the waistline
• “head” or “upward”
• Superior – “above”
• Cephalic means toward
the head
• Caudal – latin for tail
• Below the waistline
• Inferior, below
Opposites
• Superior and inferior
• Used to describe body
parts in relation to one
another in general
• Superior – above
• Inferior - below
Opposites
• Lateral
• Refers to the sides of the
body
• Medial
• Refers to the middle of
the body
 Opposites
• Distal
• Away from the point of origin or
center of body
• The foot would be the distal
portion of the leg
• Proximal
• Refers to ‘nearest the point of
origin’ or center of body. Close
proximity
• The upper thigh would be the
proximal portion of the leg
Miscellaneous
• Ipsilateral
• Pertains to one side
• The same side
• Mediolateral
• Pertaining to the middle
and one side
Anatomical divisions of the
abdomen
• Used to describe the regions in which organs and
structures are found
• Used to diagnose abdominal problems with greater
accuracy
Abdominal Regions - 9
• Hypochondriac region • Umbilical region
• Upper lateral regions • Region of the navel or
beneath the ribs umbilicus
• Epigastric region • Inguinal (iliac) region
• Region of the stomach • Lower lateral regions
and heart • Hypogastric region
• Lumbar region • Lower middle region,
• Two middle lateral below the umbilicus
regions
Abdominal Quadrants - 4
• Left upper quadrant • Right upper quadrant
• LUQ • RUQ
• Contains the left lobe of the • Contains the right lobe of
liver, stomach, pancreas, the liver, gallbladder, and
spleen, and parts of the parts of the small and large
small and large intestines intestines
• Left lower quadrant • Right lower quadrant
• LLQ • RLQ
• Contains parts of the small • Contains parts of the small
& large intestines, left and large intestines,
ureters, left ovary, and appendix, right ureters, right
fallopian tube ovary, and fallopian tube
Positions
• Erect
• a standing position
• Lateral recumbent
• lying on left side with right thigh and knee drawn up to
chest
• Prone
• lying face down
• Supine
• lying flat on your back
 Positions
• Sims’ position
• Semi-prone side position
• Lying on the left side with the
right thigh and knee sharply
flexed; left leg straight
• The lower arm (left) is behind
the person
• Pillow is under the person’s head
and shoulder
• Usually not comfortable for older
persons
Positions
• Fowler’s position
• Semi-sitting
• The head of the bed is
raised between 45 and 60
degrees
• Spine is straight
• Head is supported with a
small pillow