ANATOMICAL

PRINCIPLES

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

2. VENTRAL 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

2.1.2. PERICARDIAL CAVITY
2.1.3. MEDIASTINUM

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
and 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.

POST TEST