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4 Basic Anatomical Terminology Anatomical position: the subject stands erect facing the observer, with head level and eyes facing directly forward Prone position: the body is lying face down Supine position: the body is lying face up Regional Names: Head region: skull encloses and protects the brain face front portion of head that includes eyes, nose, mouth, forehead, chin, cheeks Neck supports the head and attaches to the trunk Trunk: consists of chest, abdomen, and pelvis Upper limb (extremity): attached to the trunk; consists of shoulder, armpit, arm (shoulder to elbow), forearm (elbow to wrist), wrist, and hand Lower limb (extremity): attached to trunk and consists of buttock, thigh, leg, ankle, and foot Groin: area of the front surface of the body marked by a crease on each side , where the trunk attaches to the thighs. Planes: imaginary flat surfaces that pass through the body Sagittal plane: a vertical plane that divides the body or organ into right and left sides Midsagittal plane/Medial plane: a plane that passes through the midline of the body and divides the body into equal left and right sides Midline is an imaginary vertical line that divides the body into equal right and left sides Parasagittal plane: sagittal plane that does not pass through the midline and divides the body into unequal right and left sides Frontal/Coronal plane: divides the organ/body into front and back portions Transverse plane: divides the body or organ into upper and lower portions (also cross-sectional or horizontal plane) *Frontal, sagittal, and transverse planes are all at right angles to one another

Oblique plane: plane passes through body or organ not at a 90 degree angle (oblique angle) Sections: cuts of the body or one of its organs made along a plane DIRECTIONAL TERMS Superior: above or higher in position; toward the head (not used in reference to positions on the limbs) Cranial/cephalic: relating to the skull or head; toward the head (applied to all animals) Inferior: below or lower in position; toward the feet Rostral: relating to the nose and mouth region; toward the face Caudal: Relating to the tail; at or near the tail or posterior part of the body Anterior: Nearer to or at the front the body Posterior: Nearer to or at the back of the body Ventral: Relating to the belly side of the body; toward the belly Dorsal: Relating to the back side of the body; toward the back Medial: Nearer to the midline Lateral: Farther from the midline Intermediate: Between two structures Ipsilateral: On the same side of the bodys midline as another structure Contralateral: On the opposite side of the bodys midline from another structure Proximal: Nearer to the attachment of a limb to the trunk; nearer to the origination of a structure Distal: Farther from the attachment of a limb to the trunk; farther from the origination of a structure Superficial: Toward or on the surface of the body Deep: Away from the surface of the body External: Toward the outside of a structure (typically describing relationship of individual organs, as is internal) Internal: Toward the inside of a structure

1/7/2014 5:30:00 PM 1.5 BODY CAVITIES Body Cavities spaces within the body that help protect, separate, and support internal organs Types: 1) Cranial cavity a hollow space of the head formed by cranial bones 2) Vertebral (spinal) canal formed by the bones of the vertebral column; contains the spinal cord and the beginnings of the spinal nerves *Meninges three layers of membrane that along with shock-absorbing fluid surround the brain and spinal chord. *Cranial cavity and vertebral canal are continuous with one another 3) Thoracic cavity: chest cavity that is formed by the ribs, the muscles of the chest, the sternum, and the thoracic portion of the vertebral column Central portion of the thoracic cavity is the mediastinum, between the medial walls of the two pleural cavities and extends from the sternum to the vertebral column, and from the first rib to the diaphragm; contains thoracic organs except the lung themselves Mediastinum includes heart, esophagus, trachea, thymus, and several large blood vessels that enter and leave the heart Within the thoracic cavity, pleural cavities each one surrounds one lung and contains a small amount of lubricating fluid 4) Pericardial cavity: a space that surrounds the heart and contains a small amount of lubricating fluid *Diaphragm: a dome-shaped muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominopelvic cavity 5) Abdominopelvic cavity: extends from the diaphragm to the groin and is encircled by the abdominal muscle wall and the bones and muscles of the pelvis Superior portion is the abdominal cavity. Contains the kidneys, adrenal glands, stomach, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, spleen, small intestine, and most of the large intestine The inferior portion is the pelvic cavity. Contains the urinary bladder, portions of the large intestine, and the internal organs of the reproductive system

*Organs in the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities are termed the viscera

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