Anatomical Directional Terms and Body Planes Health Science

Anatomical Directional Terms and Body Planes Health Science 20

Anatomical Directions Terms and Body Planes • Anatomical directional terms are like the directions on a compass • Used to describe the locations of structures in relation to other structures or locations in the body. • Provides a common method of communication that helps to avoid confusion when identifying structures • Each directional term often has a counterpart (opposite meaning)

Anatomical Body Planes • Imagine dissecting a person with imaginary vertical and horizontal planes.

Sagittal Plane (Lateral Plane) • Imagine a vertical plane that runs through your body from front to back or back to front. • This plane divides the body into right and left regions

Coronal Plane (Frontal Plane) • Imagine a vertical plane that runs through the center of your body from side to side • Divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) regions

Transverse Plane • Imagine a horizontal plane that runs through the midsection of your body • Divides the body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) regions.

Anatomical Directional Terms

Anterior/Posterior • Anterior – in front of; front • Posterior – after, behind, following, toward the rear

Distal/Proximal • Distal – away from; farther from the origin • Proximal – near; closer to the origin

Dorsal/Ventral • Dorsal – near the upper surface; toward the back • Ventral – toward the bottom; toward the belly

Superior/Inferior • Superior – above; over • Inferior – below; under

Lateral/Medial • Lateral – toward the side; away from the midline • Medial – toward the midline; middle; away from the side

Body Cavities

Body Cavities • A cavity is an open region within something • There are 5 cavities in the body: – Cranial – Spinal – Thoracic – Abdominal – Pelvic

Cranial Cavity • Aka. Intracranial space • In the dorsal side of the body • Space formed inside the skill • The brain occupies the cranial cavity • Lined by the meninges which contain cerebrospinal fluid to cushion blows

Spinal Cavity • Aka. Intracranial space • In the dorsal side of the body • Contains the vertebrae and the spinal cord

Thoracic Cavity • Aka. Chest cavity • Ventral side of body • Protected by the thoracic wall (rib cage and associated skin, muscle, and fascia) • Contains heart and lungs

Abdominal Cavity • Largest body cavity • Located inferior to the thoracic cavity and superior to the pelvic cavity • Contains digestive organs

Pelvic Cavity • Primarily contains reproductive organs, the urinary bladder, the pelvic colon, and the rectum