Download Body Planes, Directions, and Cavities

Body Planes, Directions, and
Cavities
JAMES VALLEY VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL CENTER
Objectives
• Label a diagram of the three planes of
the body with the names of the planes
and the directional terms created by
these planes
• Label a diagram of the main body
cavities
Objectives Cont….
• Identify the main organs located in
each body cavity
• Locate the four quadrants and the nine
abdominal regions
• Define, pronounce, and spell all of the
key terms
Body Planes:
• Definition = imaginary lines drawn
through the body to separate the body
into sections
Transverse Plane:
Horizontal plane dividing the body into
a top and bottom half
1. Superior = body parts above other
parts
2. Inferior = body parts below other
parts
3. Cranial = body parts near the head
4. Caudal = body parts located near
the sacral region of the spinal column
(or near the tail bone)
Median Plane:
Divides the body into right and left sides
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
Frontal Plane:
Divides the body into front and back
section.
1. Anterior = body parts on the front
of the body
2. Posterior = body parts on the back
of the body
• Proximal = body parts close to the
point of reference
• Distal = body parts away from the
point of reference
Body Cavities:
Spaces within the body which contain
vital organs
Posterior Cavity:
One long continuous cavity that is
located on the back of the body,
divided into two sections
1. Cranial Cavity = contains the brain
2. Spinal Cavity = contains the spinal
cord
Anterior Cavities:
Larger and separated into two distinct cavities
by a dome-shaped muscle called the
diaphragm, which is important for breathing
1. Thoracic Cavity = located in the chest,
contains the heart, lungs, and the large
blood vessels
2. Abdominal Cavity = divided into
upper and lower parts
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
Abdominal Regions: Quadrants
1.
2.
3.
4.
Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)
Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)
Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)
Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)
Abdominal Regions:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Epigastric
Umbilical
Pelvic
Hypochondriac
Lateral
Inguinal