BASIC ANATOMICAL

TERMINOLOGY
BODY POSITION
ANATOMICAL POSITION
- the subject stands erect facing the observer, with the head
level and the eyes facing directly forward. The lower limbs are
parallel and the feet are flat on the floor and directed
forward, and the upper limbs are at the sides with the palms
turned forward.
PRONE POSITION – body is lying facedown
SUPINE POSITION – body is lying faceup
REGIONAL NAMES

- The human body is divided into several major regions that

can be identified externally. The principal regions are the
head neck, trunk, upper limbs, and lower limbs
BODY POSITIONS
DIRECTIONAL TERMS
- words that describe the position of one body part relative
to another
- Most of the directional terms used to describe the
relationship of one part of the body to another can be
grouped into pairs that have opposite meanings
PLANES AND SECTIONS
PLANES
- Imaginary flat surfaces that pass through the body
parts
SAGITTAL PLANE
- is a vertical plane that divides the body or an organ
into right and left sides. when such a plane passes through
the midline of the body or an organ and divides it into equal
right and left sides, it is called a MIDSAGITTAL OR MEDIAN
PLANE.
MIDLINE
- An imaginary vertical line that divides the body into equal left
and right sides
PARASAGITTAL PLANE
- If the sagittal plane does not pass through the midline but
instead divides the body or an organ into unequal right and left sides
FRONTAL OR CORONAL PLANE
- divides the body or an organ into anterior (front) and posterior
(back) portions
TRANSVERSE PLANE/CROSS-SECTIONAL/HORIZONTAL
PLANE
- divides the body or an organ into superior (upper) and
inferior (lower) portions.
OBLIQUE PLANE
- passes through the body or an organ at an oblique angle
(any angle other than a 90-degree angle).
BODY CAVITIES
- spaces that enclose internal organs. Bones, muscles, ligaments, and
other structures separate the various body cavities from one another
• CRANIAL CAVITY
- composed of cranial bones that form a hollow space in the head
which contains the brain.
•VERTEBRAL/SPINAL CANAL
- formed by the bones of the vertebral column (backbone) and
contains the spinal cord
• THORACIC OR CHEST CAVITY
- is formed by the ribs, the muscles of the chest, the sternum
(breastbone), and the thoracic
portion of the vertebral column. Contains:
a. PERICARDIAL CAVITY
- a fluid-filled space that surrounds the heart
b. PLEURAL CAVITIES
- two fluid-filled spaces one around each lung.
c. MEDIASTINUM
- the central part of the thoracic cavity
- it is between the lungs, extending from the sternum to
the vertebral column and from the first rib to the diaphragm
-Among the structures in the mediastinum are the heart,
esophagus, trachea, thymus, and several large blood vessels
that enter and exit the heart
• DIAPHRAGM
- a dome-shaped muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the
abdominopelvic cavity.
• ABDOMINOPELVIC CAVITY
- extends from the diaphragm to the groin and is encircled by the
abdominal muscular wall and the bones and muscles of the pelvis.
Portions:
a. ABDOMINAL CAVITY
- the superior portion which contains the stomach, spleen, liver,
gallbladder, small intestine, and most of the large intestine.
b. PELVIC CAVITY
- the inferior portion which contains the urinary bladder,
portions of the large intestine, and internal organs of the
reproductive system.
*Organs inside the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities are
called viscera
THORACIC AND ABDOMINAL
CAVITY MEMBRANES
MEMBRANE
- a thin, pliable tissue that covers, lines, partitions, or connects
structures
SEROUS MEMBRANE
- a double-layered membrane associated with body cavities that
does not open directly to the exterior
- it covers the viscera within the thoracic and abdominal cavities and
also lines the walls of the thorax and abdomen. The parts of a serous
membrane are:
1. parietal layer - a thin epithelium that lines the walls of
the cavities
2. visceral layer - a thin epithelium that covers and adheres
to the viscera within the cavities
* Between the two layers is a potential space that contains
small amount of lubricating fluid (serous fluid). The fluid
allows the viscera to slide somewhat during movements,
such as when the lungs inflate and deflate during breathing.
*PLEURA - The serous membrane of the pleural cavities .
*PERICARDIUM The serous membrane of the pericardial cavity
*PERITONEUM – The serous membrane of the abdominal cavity
*RETROPERITONEAL ORGANS –not line by the peritoneum and
located posterior to it
- The kidneys, adrenal glands, pancreas, duodenum of the small
intestine, ascending and descending colons of the large intestine,
and portions of the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava are
retroperitoneal
ABDOMINOPELVIC REGIONS AND
QUADRANTS
ABDOMINOPELVIC REGIONS
A. subcostal line - drawn just inferior to the ribs, across the
inferior portion of the stomach
B. transtubercular line - the bottom horizontal line is drawn
just inferior to the tops of the hip bones
C. & D. left and right midclavicular lines - two vertical lines,
drawn through the midpoints of the clavicles (collar bones),
just medial to the nipples.
9 ABDOMINOPELVIC REGIONS:
1. right hypochondriac 6. left lumbar
2. epigastric 7. right inguinal (iliac)
3. left hypochondriac 8. hypogastric (pubic)
4. right lumbar 9. left inguinal (iliac)
5. umbilical
QUADRANTS:
- a midsagittal line (the median line) and a transverse line
(the transumbilical line) are passed through the umbilicus
or belly button
- right upper quadrant (RUQ), left upper quadrant (LUQ),
right lower quadrant (RLQ), and left lower quadrant (LLQ).