Download Levels of Organization and Anatomical Terms

Anatomical Terms & Body
Cavities
Unit 1 Lesson 2
Guiding Question:
• What are the anatomical and directional terms I
need to know in A & P?
Section 4: Anatomical Terms
• Landmarks around the body create a map for
orientation
• Based on Latin or Greek words used by ancient
anatomists
• Many terms also were initially named after the
discoverer or the most famous victim (diseases)
Superficial and regional anatomy
• Anatomical position
– Standing up
– Hands at the sides
– Palms facing forward
– Feet together
– Laying down in anatomical position
• Supine (face up)
• Prone (face down)
Superior
Cranial
Left
Right
Proximal
Posterior
or dorsal
Anterior
or ventral
Lateral
Caudal
Medial
Proximal
Distal
The principal directional terms
Inferior
Distal
Figure 1.9 1
Front/Back
 Relative to front (belly side) or
back (back side) of the body:
 Anterior = In front of; toward
the head or front surface of an
organ
 Posterior = In back of; toward
the tail or back surface of an
organ
 Dorsal =At the back side of the
human body
 Ventral = At the belly side of
the human body
Head/Toe
 Relative to the head or tail of
the body:
 Superior = above (means
upper)
 Inferior = below (means
lower)
Inside/Outside
 Relative to the midline or center of
the body:
 Medial = Toward the midline
of the body
 Lateral = Away from the
midline of the body
 Deep = On the inside,
underneath the surface
 Superficial = On the outside or
surface of the body
Close To/Far Away
 Relative to point of
attachment of the
appendage:
 Proximal = Closest to
point of attachment to
trunk
 Distal = Furthest from
point of attachment to
trunk
Body Regions
The human body is partitioned into two
main regions, called the axial and
appendicular regions.
 the axial region includes the head, neck,
and trunk which comprise the main vertical
axis of our body
 Our limbs, or appendages, attach to the
body’s axis and make up the appendicular
region
Body Cavities:
Dorsal Side
Cranial Cavity
Houses the Brain
Vertebral Canal
Houses the Spinal Cord
Body Cavities:
Ventral Side
Thoracic Cavity
Chest region
Abdominopelvic Cavity
Abdominal Cavity
Pelvic Cavity
Body Cavities:
Thoracic
(Anterior View)
Plural Cavities: houses the
lungs
Pericardial Cavity: houses
the heart
ANSWER THE GUIDING QUESTION
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