PhysiologyBody Organization Activity

INTRODUCTION: This activity will help you to learn the vocabulary use to describe the human body. This vocabulary consists of directional terms, body sections and planes and body cavities. All the terms are used relative to the anatomical position which provides us with reference for describing the body. This means the person is standing and facing the observer. The arms are at the sides of the body with the palms facing forward.

PURPOSE: To learn and understand the terminology used to describe the organization of the human body.

MATERIALS: gummy bears, razor or knife, note cards for labeling, paper

PART I: Directional terms. This vocabulary consists of directional terms named because they point out the location of a body part. There are six pairs used, each term in a pair is the opposite.

Superior-Inferior Ventral-Dorsal Medial-LateralAnterior-Posterior Proximal-Distal Right-Left

1. Copy or trace the following diagram into your spiral bound notebook and label each diagram with the appropriate directional terms given above. Include the midline and label it as well.

2. Below your diagram write a statement for each of the six pairs of directional terms. The statements should show the relationship of each pair.

Ex. “ The wrist is distal to the elbow, but the shoulder is proximal to the elbow.”

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PART II: Body sections and planes. The word anatomy is derived from the Greek prefix “meaning to cut up”. The sections are planes produced in the body to reveal its internal anatomy. There are three main sections that use two different terms to describe the same planes of division. They are as follows:

Median or Midsagittal Frontal or Coronal Transverse or Horizontal

1. Take one gummy bear and a single edge razor blade. Cut through the median plane of the bear. Draw a diagram of the resulting two parts and label it Diagram A-Median plane. Using directional terms (learned in Part I) write a descriptive sentence about the resulting halves and label your gummy bear parts.

2. Take a second gummy bear. Now make a cut through the frontal plane. Draw this diagram and label it Diagram B-Frontal plane. Using directional terms (learned in Part I) write a descriptive sentence about the resulting halves and label your gummy bear parts.

3. Take a third gummy bear and cut a transverse plane. Label this Diagram C-Transverse plane Using directional terms (learned in Part I) write a descriptive sentence about the resulting halves and label your gummy bear parts.

PART III: Body Cavities. There are two principle body regions and these are broken up into smaller cavities.1.) Axial portion

Cranial cavity Vertebral canal Thoracic cavity

Right pleural cavity Left pleural cavity

Transverse (horizontal) plane

Frontal (coronal) plane Median (midsagittal) plane

Pericardial cavity Abdominopelvic cavity

Abdominal cavity Pelvic cavity

2.) Appendicular portion Limbs

1. Copy the diagrams below and label each using the terms above. You should also include the diaphragm and the mediastinum.

2. Write the names of each structure below and identify which principle body cavity each would be found in and which sub cavity each would be found in.

Example: trachea=axial portion/thoracic cavityBrain stomachLungs right armBladder spinal cordHeart ovaryUterus esophagusSmall intestines left leg

3. With your partner, write the name of each cavity on a note card and stick the card in the appropriate region on one of you. Show your teacher when you have done completed this so your group can be checked for the correct placement.

PART IV: Practice

1. Copy each of the following statements on your own paper and fill in the appropriate word choice.( superior or inferior)a. Oral region______________vs. nose________________________________b. Cervical region__________vs. tail bone___________________________

( anterior/posterior)c. Nose_______________vs. ear___________________d. Knuckles __________vs. palm_________________

(medial or lateral)e. Radius bone_________________vs. ulna bone___________f. Orbital region_______________vs. ear__________________

(proximal or distal)g. Fingers___________________vs. carpal region_____________h. Upper arm_______________vs. clavicle____________________

PART V: Project connection

Given your group scenario for the project, list the organs and other body structures that may be involved in your patient and identify their location in the body using anatomical terminology