Body Planes, Directions, and Cavities

JAMES VALLEY VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL CENTER

Body Planes, Directions, and Cavities

Body Planes:• Definition = imaginary lines drawn

through the body to separate the body into sections

• Refer to as any slice or cut through a 3 dimensional structure

• What diagnostic exams use this technique?

Sagittal PlaneDivides the body or organ vertically into right and left unequal parts– words used with this plane include:• Medial = body parts located near the middle or

midline of the body• Lateral = body parts located away from the midline or

middle of the body• Proximal = body parts close to the point of reference• Distal = body parts away from the point of reference

Midsagittal Plane:

Divides the body vertically into EQUAL right and left sides1. Medial = body parts located near the middle or midline of the body2. Lateral = body parts located away from the midline or middle of the body

Frontal or Coronal Plane:

Divides the body into front and back section.1. Anterior = body parts on the front of the body2. Posterior = body parts on the back of the body

Transverse Plane:

Horizontal plane dividing the body into a top and bottom half1. Superior = body parts above other parts2. Inferior = body parts below other parts

Body Directions • Superior – upper or above• Inferior- lower or below• Anterior or ventral- in front of• Posterior- after or behind• medial- toward the midline- middle• Lateral – toward the side – away from

midline• Proximal-toward the truck – near point of

attachment

Body Directions• Distal-away from origin or point of

attachment• Dorsal- near the upper surface- toward the

neck• Ventral- towrd the bottom- toward the belly• Cranial-refers to the head• Caudal – means tail• Internal- inside the body

Body Cavities:

• Spaces within the body which contain vital organs

• Protect organs from shocks and bumps• Permit expansion and contraction

without disrupting other organs

Posterior or Dorsal Cavity:• One long continuous cavity that is located

on the back of the body, divided into two sections

• Surrounds the brain and spinalcord

1. Cranial Cavity = contains the brain2. Spinal Cavity = contains the spinal cord

Anterior or Ventral Cavity:• Larger and separated into two distinct cavities --

the chest and abdomen-• by a dome-shaped muscle called the diaphragm,

which is important for breathing1. Thoracic Cavity = located in the chest, contains the heart, lungs, and the large blood vessels

2. Abdominopelvic

2. Abdominal Cavity = divided into upper and lower partsUpper part contains the stomach, small intestines, most of the large intestines, liver, gallbladder, pancreas and spleen3. Pelvic Cavity = lower abdominal cavity containing urinary bladder, the reproductive organs, and last part of the large intestines

Abdominal Regions: Quadrants

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

Abdominal Quadrants

Abdominal Regions:• Epigastric-

– above the stomach• Umbilical

– -@ belly button or umbilicus• Hypogastric or pelvic

– below the stomach• Hypochondriac

– below the ribs• Lumbar

– Near the large bones of the spinal cord• Iliac or Inguinal

– Near the groin

Abdominal Regions

Sooooooo…….What if….• You have a patient that has gangrene

in the lower portion of their leg and you need to amputate….. You would make a ________________ cut through the leg.

• The abdominal muscles and muscles of the back are separated by the _______________ plane.

OK, sooooo…….

1. Which cavity is the heart found in?2. Which cavity contains the spinal cord?3. Which cavity contains the ovaries?4. Which cavity contains the lungs?5. Which cavity consists of the

abdominopelvic and thoracic cavities?6. Which cavity contains the cranial and

spinal/vertrebral cavities?

BODY PLANES

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Directional Terms

Body

cavitIes

Abdominal Quadrants and Regions

Superior vs Inferior

• The forehead is ________ to the nose.• The lips are _________ to the chin.• The heart is _________ to the liver.

• The umbilicus is ______ to the breastbone• The knee is ____ to the hip• The stomach is ______ to the lungs

Anterior vs Posterior

• The breatbone is _______ to the spine• Your front teeth are ______ to your back

teeth.

• The esophagus is _______ to the trachea• The spine is _______ to the heart

Medial vs Lateral

• The nose is _______ to the ears.

• The lungs are ______ to the heart.

Proximal vs Distal

• The elbow is ______ to the wrist• The femur is ______ to the tibia

• The knee is _____ to the thigh• The fingers are_______ to the elbow

Superficial Vs Deep

• The skin is _________ to the muscles• The epidermis is__________ to the dermis

• The organs are ____ in relation to the skin• Sinuses are ________ in relation to the nose