The human body: An orientation

Pg 44 - Marieb and Hoehn

Anatomical Terms

 Standard anatomical position – anatomical reference point , the standard body

position
 Body erect , feet slight apart , palms facing forward with thumbs pointing
away from the body
 Resembles “standing at attention “
 It is important to remember that the terms “right” and “left” refer to
those sides of the person or the cadaver being viewed not those of the
observer

• Directional terms - describe one body structure in relation to another body

structure.
• E.g: we could describe the relationship between the ears and the nose by stating
the ears are located on each side of the head to the right and left of the nose
however by using anatomical terminology instead we can say the ears are lateral to
the nose
• Direction is always based on standard anatomical position.
• Right and left refer to the body being viewed from behind.
 Learn all of these !
Regional Terms

• Two major divisions of body

• Axial
• Head, neck, and trunk
• Appendicular
• Limbs (legs and arms)

• Regional terms designate specific areas within body divisions

• Body planes
• Surfaces along which body or structures may be cut for anatomical study
• For anatomical studies the body is often cut , or sectioned , along a flat
surface called a plane

• Three most common planes:

• Sagittal plane
 • Frontal (coronal) plane
• Transverse (horizontal) plane

• Sections
• Cuts or sections made along a body plane
• Named after plane, so a sagittal cut results in a sagittal section

• Sagittal plane
• Divides body vertically into right and left parts
• Produces a sagittal section if cut along this plane
• Midsagittal (median) plane
• Cut was made perfectly on midline
• Parasagittal plane
• Cut was off-centered, not on midline
 • Frontal (coronal) plane
• Divides body vertically into anterior and posterior parts (front and back)
• Produces a frontal or coronal section

• Transverse (horizontal) plane

• Divides body horizontally (90° to vertical plane) into superior and inferior
parts (top and bottom)
• Produces a cross section

• Oblique section
• Result of cuts at angle other than 90° to vertical plane

Medical Imaging

Body cavities and Membranes

• Body contains internal cavities that are closed to environment

• Cavities provide different degrees of protection to organs within them
• Two sets of cavities
• Dorsal body cavity
 Ventral body cavity
Dorsal Body Cavity

• Protects fragile nervous system

• Two subdivisions
• Cranial cavity
• Encases brain
• Vertebral cavity
• Encases spinal cord

Ventral Body Cavity

• Houses the internal organs (collectively called viscera)

• Two subdivisions, which are separated by the diaphragm
• Thoracic cavity
• Abdominopelvic cavity

• Thoracic cavity
• Two pleural cavities
• Each cavity surrounds one lung
• Mediastinum
• Contains pericardial cavity
• Pericardial cavity
Encloses heart + Surrounds other thoracic organs, such as esophagus,
trachea, etc.

• Abdominopelvic cavity
• Abdominal cavity
• Contains stomach, intestines, spleen, and liver
• Pelvic cavity
• Contains urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum

• Whereas the pelvic bones provide limited protection to the pelvic cavity, the walls of
abdominal cavity are formed by muscle only, so organs in this area are most
vulnerable to trauma

• Membranes in ventral body cavity

• Serosa (also called serous membrane)
• Thin, double-layered membranes that cover surfaces in ventral body
cavity
• Parietal serosa lines internal body cavity walls
• Visceral serosa covers internal organs (viscera)
 • Double layers are separated by slit-like cavity filled with serous fluid
Fluid secreted by both layers of membrane

• Named for specific cavity and organs that they are associated with
• Pericardium
• Heart
• Pleurae
• Lungs
• Peritoneum
• Abdominopelvic cavity

• Serous membranes can become inflamed as a result of infection or other causes

• Normally smooth layers can become rough and even can stick together, resulting in
excruciating pain
• Examples: pleurisy, peritonitis, pericarditis

Each body cavity is uniquely suited to house its contents.

Problems arrise when a structure strays into a neighboring
cavity. A hiatal hernia occurs when part of the stomach slides
through the diaphragm into the thoracic cavity, allowing
stomach acid to cause heartburn (which is actually irritation
of the esophagus, not the heart). Severe cases may require
surgical repair.

• Abdominopelvic quadrants and regions

• Quadrants are divisions used primarily by medical personnel
• Abdominopelvic region is sectioned into quarters
 • Right upper quadrant (RUQ)
• Left upper quadrant (LUQ)
• Right lower quadrant (RLQ)
• Left lower quadrant (LLQ)

• Abdominopelvic quadrants and regions (cont.)

• Nine divisions called regions, resembling a tic-tac-toe grid, are used primarily
by anatomists
• Right hypochondriac region
• Epigastric region
• Left hypochondriac region
• Right lumbar region
• Umbilical region
 • Left lumber region
• Right Iliac (inguinal) region
• Hypogastric region
• Left iliac (inguinal) region

Other Body Cavities

• In addition to the two main body cavities, the body has several smaller cavities that
are exposed to environment
• Oral and digestive cavities
• Nasal cavity
• Orbital cavities
• Middle ear cavities
• Not exposed to environment
• Synovial cavities: joint cavities

What is the superior subdivision of the ventral body cavity ?

Thoracic cavity

What is the inferior subdivision of the ventral body cavity

The vetral body cavity is the more anterior and larger of the closed body cavities
A body cavity is a fluid-filled space inside the body that holds and protects organs