BODY PLANES, DIRECTIONS, CAVITIES,

AND REGIONAL TERMINOLOGY

An Introduction to

Introduction

Anatomic reference systems describe the location and functions of body parts. The basic reference systems are:

body planes body directions body regions body cavities

LMAO!

Objectives understand the how 3 body

planes divide the human body

Be able to use directional terminology in describing different areas of the body

Identify and recognize body regions

Gain a working understanding of body cavities and the organs they house

Anatomical Position and Regional Terms

Anatomical Position Person stands erect with feet together and eyes

forward Palms face anteriorly with thumbs pointed away

from the body Right and left always refers to the sides

belonging to the person or specimen being viewed – never to the viewer

Note: four legged animals have a different anatomical position than humans Their ventral is on the inferior side and dorsal in on

the superior side In humans ventral and anterior is the same and so is

dorsal and posterior

Directional Terminology

1. Anterior = body parts on the front of the body2. Posterior = body parts on the back of the body

The frontal plane divides the body into “anterior” and “posterior” regions.

Directional Terminology

Cranial or Superior = body parts near the head

Caudal or Inferior = body parts located near the sacrum, or tail bone.

Cranial

Caudal

Directional Terminology

1. Medial = body parts located near the middle or midline of the body

2. Lateral = body parts located away from the midline or middle of the body

Lateral and Medial

Lateral referrs to

Directional Terminology

Proximal = body parts close to the point of reference

Distal = body parts away from the point of reference

In Summary…

What is a “Plane?”

A “body plane”is an imaginary line drawn through the body which separates it into sections.

Body Planes: The Sagittal Plane

-The Sagittal Plane Divides the body into right and left sides

Body Planes: The Frontal Plane

The “Frontal Plane” divides the body into front and back section. The frontal plane is sometimes called the “Coronal Plane.”

Body Planes: The Transverse Plane

The “transverse Plane” divides the body into sections above and below the midline.

The Orange activity

Use a marker to label the top and bottom of your orange.

Draw a line around the orange which represents the transverse plane. Label.

Draw a line around the orange which represents the frontal or coronal plane. Label.

Draw a line around the orange which represents the Sagittal Plane. Label.

The Orange activity

Cut the orange in half along the transverse plane. When Finished, use a toothpick to put the orange back together.

Cut the orange in half along coronal plane. When Finished, use toothpicks to put the orange back together.

Cut the orange in half along the Sagittal Plane. When Finished, use toothpicks to put the orange back together.

Abdominal Regions: Quadrants

1. Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)2. Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)3. Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)4. Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)

Abdominal Regions:

Epigastric Umbilical Pelvic Hypochondriac Lateral Inguinal

Abdominal Regions

Body Cavities: The Dorsal Cavity

-A long continuous cavity that is located on the back (or posterior) of the body, divided into two sections

Cranial Cavity = contains the brain

Spinal Cavity = contains the spinal cord

Divisions of the Spinal

Cord

Cervical vertebrae: C Thoracic vertebrae: T Lumbar vertebrae: L Sacrum: S

Body Cavities: The Anterior

Larger and separated into 2 distinct cavities by a dome-shaped muscle called the diaphragm, which is important for breathing.

Thoracic Cavity = located in the chest, contains the heart, lungs, and the large blood vessels

Figure 1.7

Pericardial, Pleural, Peritoneal

Body Cavities: The Anterior

2. Abdominal Cavity = divided into quadrants…

Upper part contains the stomach, small intestines, most of the large intestines, liver, gallbladder, pancreas and spleen

3. Pelvic Cavity = lower abdominal cavity containing urinary bladder, the reproductive organs, and last part of the large intestines

Body Cavities: The Anterior

Body Cavities: Review

Practice Quiz: Can YOU Name these Body

Cavities?

Body Cavities

Thoracic

Adbdominal

Pelvic

Spinal

Cranial

Diaphragm

That’s all Folks!

Clinical Anatomy: An Introduction to Medical Imaging Techniqes

Traditional more non-invasive method of diagnosis X-rays (electromagnetic waves) directed at the

body Some x-rays are absorbed: amount of absorption

depends on the density of matter encountered

Radiograph image: negative Darker exposed areas represent soft organs (easily

penetrated) Light, unexposed areas correspond to denser

structures such as bones

Contrast medium: solution with heavy elements (i.e. barium) Used to view soft tissue organs

Advanced X-Ray techniques use computer-assisted imaging technologies

Figure 1.10

Radiography X ray: electromagnetic waves of very short length

Best for visualizing bones and abnormal dense structures

Heart

(a) Radiograph of the chest (b)Mammogram (cancerous tumor at arrow)

Clavicles(collarbones)

Air inlungs(black)

Ribs

Diaphragm

Advanced Medical Imaging: Computed (Axial) Tomography (CT or CAT)

Takes successive X rays around a person’s circumference

Translates recorded information into a detailed picture of the section

Inferiorvena cava

Right Left

Liver

ColonStomach

Aorta

Spleen

Left kidneyThoracicvertebra

View

Barium contrast x-ray showing a cancer of the ascending colon (arrow)

Contrast X-rays

Contrast media make hollow or fluid-filled structures visible

Media can be introduced by injection, orally, or rectally Depends on the

structure imaged

Figure 1.12

Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA)

A contrast medium given: images taken ‘before’ and ‘after’

Computer processes the x-ray images and subtracts the differences

Eliminates all traces of body structures that obscure the vessel

Identify blockages of arteries that supply the heart or brain

Figure 1.13

• Produces images by detecting radioactive isotopes injected into the body

• Decaying isotopes emits gamma raysDetected by sensors,

translated into impulses and sent to a computer

• Active areas receiving more blood light up

PET (Positron Emission Tomography): accesses functional flow of blood to the heart & brain

Figure 1.14

Sonography (Ultrasound Imaging)

Pulses of high frequency (ultrasonic) sound waves reflect (echo) off tissue

Computer analyzes the echoes to construct sectional images

Inexpensive/safer technique but not used for viewing air-filled structures or structures surrounded by bone

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

High-energy magnetic field causes protons (H+) in tissues and fluids to align in relation to the field Pulse of radio waves emitted to misalign H+

As they realign with the magnet a radio wave is again emitted Sensors ‘read’ these ion patterns, computerized signals produce detailed images

of soft tissues

Interior view of the colon as shown by colonoscopy

Endoscopy

Endoscope: lighted instrument with lenses

Used for visual examination of the inside of body organs or cavities

Colonoscopy: interior of the colon

Arthroscopy: interior of a joint

Laparoscopy: interior of abdominopelvic organs