ANATOMICAL PRINCIPLES

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the session, the student is expected to:
1. Define anatomical terms pertaining to the body:
1.1. Position
1.2. Planes
1.3. Sections
2. Describe the orientation of the body in the human anatomical position.
3. Identify and describe the planes of human body.
4. Identify the 2 divisions of the human body and their corresponding structures.
5. Identify the major and minor cavities of the human body and the organ structures it contain.

Scientists and health-care professionals use a common language of special terms when referring
to the body structures and their functions. The language of anatomy and physiology has precisely
defined meanings that allow us to communicate without using unneeded or ambiguous words.

ANATOMICAL POSITION
Person is standing erect with the feet forward, arms hanging to the sides, and palms of the
hands facing forward.

Provides a frame of reference for using various terms of positions to:

▪ Locate specific structure
▪ Describe spatial relationship

PLANES AND SECTIONS

In visualizing anatomical relationships, it is often helpful to imagine planes passing
through the body.

PLANES
Imaginary flat surfaces
1. SAGITTAL PLANE
Runs vertically through the body
Separates the body into right and left portions.
2. FRONTAL PLANE
Runs vertically from right to left side of the body.
Divides the body into front and back portions.
3. TRANSVERSE PLANE
Runs parallel to the surface of the ground.
Divides the body into upper and lower portions.

SECTIONS
Imaginary slices through the body along a plane.
TERMS OF POSITION
Refers to the body in the anatomical position regardless of its actual positions.
These are used to describe the position of structures in relation to other structures or body
 parts.

INFERIOR
A structure lower than the other.
SUPERIOR
A structure higher than the other.
ANTERIOR
Toward the front of the body.
POSTERIOR
Toward the back of the body.
DORSAL
Toward the back of the body.
VENTRAL
Toward the front of the body.
PROXIMAL
Closer to the point of attachment to the body than another structure
DISTAL
Farther from the point of attachment to the body than another structure
LATERAL
Away from the midline of the body
MEDIAL
Toward the midline of the body
SUPERFICIAL
Toward or on the surface
DEEP
Away from the surface

BODY DIVISIONS
AXIAL DIVISION
1. Head
2. Neck
3. Trunk
- Thorax
- Abdomen
- Pelvis
APPENDICULAR DIVISION
1. Upper limbs
- Arms
- Forearms
- Wrists
- Hands
2. Shoulder girdles
3. Lower limbs
- Thighs
- Legs
- Ankles
- Feet
4. Pelvic girdles

BODY CAVITIES
The body is divided into two major cavities. Both of which are located on the axial portion
of the body. These are:

1. DORSAL CAVITIES
It is located near the posterior surface of the body.
1.1. CRANIAL CAVITY
It is formed by the cranial bones and contains the brain.
1.2. SPINAL CAVITY
It is formed by the vertebral column and contains the spinal cord.
2. VENTRL CAVITIES
It is located on the anterior aspect of the body.

2.1. THORACIC CAVITY

It is encircled by the ribs, the muscles of the chest, the sternum, and the thoracic
portion of the vertebral column.
Within this cavity, there are smaller cavities:
2.1.1. PLEURAL CAVITY
Left and right lateral portions of the thoracic cavity.
Contains the lungs.
2.1.2. PERICARDIAL CAVITY
Contained within the mediastinum
Contains the heart
2.1.3. MEDIASTINUM
It is the central portion of the thoracic cavity which is located between the
pleural cavities and extend from the sternum to the vertebral column, ad from
the neck to the diaphragm. It contains all the thoracic viscera except the lungs.

2.2. ABDOMINOPELVIC CAVITY

2.2.1. ABDOMINAL CAVITY
Primarily bounded by the abdominal muscles
Contents:
1. Stomach 4. Spleen
2. Intestines 5. Pancreas
3. Liver 6. Kidneys

2.2.2. PELVIC CAVITY

Small space enclosed by the bones of the pelvis
Contents:
1. Urinary bladder
2. Part of the large intestine
3. Internal reproductive organs
There are also minor cavities of the body. These are:
1. ORBITAL CAVITY
Contains the eyes
2. NASAL CAVITY
Contains the olfactory epithelium
3. BUCCAL CAVITY
Contains the tongue, teeth, palate, uvula and tonsils.