A Frame of Reference for

Anatomical Study

Anatomy and Physiology

Mr. Knowles

Chapter 1

Liberty Senior High School

Anatomical Terms of

Direction and Position

• Created for communicating the direction and relative positions of body structures.

• Most have Latin or Greek roots.

• Some are eponyms (commemorative names).

Anatomical Landmarks• Based on figures in the

anatomical position.

• Maybe lying down supine (face

up) or prone (face down).

• Example: brachium (arm);

brachialis muscle; brachial artery.

Figure 1.7 Anatomical Landmarks

Figure 1.7a

Figure 1.7b

Anatomical Regions

•Describe general area of

interest or injury.

•Example: The Quadrants of

the Abdominopelvic Region

Figure 1.8 Abdominopelvic Quadrants

and Regions

Figure 1.8a

Figure 1.8b, c

Some Anatomical Directions

(Table 1.1)

•Superior and Inferior

•Superior: toward the head

end; above

• Inferior: away from the

head end; below

Some Anatomical Directions

(Table 1.1)

• Anterior and Posterior

• Anterior: toward the front of

the body; in front of

• Posterior: toward the back of

the body; behind

Some Anatomical Directions

(Table 1.1)

• Dorsal and Ventral

• Dorsal: toward the back of

the body; behind

• Ventral: toward the belly

side

Some Anatomical Directions

(Table 1.1)

• Proximal and Distal

• Proximal: closer to the point

of attachment

• Distal: farther from the point

of attachment

Some Anatomical Directions

(Table 1.1)

• Medial and Lateral

• Medial: toward the midline

of the body

• Lateral: away from the

midline of the body

Some Anatomical Directions (Table 1.1)

• Superficial and Deep

• Superficial- at, near or

closer to the body surface.

• Deep- farther from the body

surface.

Figure 1.9 Directional References

Figure 1.9

Sectional Anatomy• Describe three-dimensional structures.

• Sectional Planes:

Transverse Planes- divide the body into

superior/inferior sections.

Frontal Planes - divide the body into

anterior and posterior sections.

Sagittal Planes-divide the body into left and

right sections. Exactly equal halves-

Midsagittal Section

Figure 1.10 Planes of Section

Figure 1.10

Transverse View

Transverse Sections of Entire

Human Body

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

Frontal Sections of Entire Human

Body

Sagittal Plane

Sagittal Sections of Entire Human

Body

The Results of Sectional

Anatomy!

Head and

Neck

Brain: The

area occupied

by the brain

is shown in

yellow.

Thorax

Lungs: Follow the path of the right and left lungs (in blue).

Heart: Note the location of the heart (in red) with respect to the lungs. The heart

resides primarily on the left side of the body. Abdomen

Liver: Follow the green outline of the liver. Notice that most of the organ resides on the right

side of the body. A thin region extends to the left side, running beneath the diaphragm.

Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract: The stomach, small intesine and colon are indiscriminantly labeled

in purple. Note how the loops of bowel travel across the abdomen.

Kidneys: Notice the more lateral positioning of the kidneys. Be certain to watch for both

kidneys - one on the left side, and one on the right side.

• Body cavities are internal chambers holding vital

organs

– Cavities protect vital organs

– Cavities allow organs to change in shape and size

• Two body cavities

– Dorsal body cavity includes the cranial cavity and the

spinal cavity

– Ventral body cavity includes the thoracic cavity and

the abdominopelvic cavity

Body Cavities

Figure 1.12a Body Cavities

Figure 1.12a, b

• The thoracic cavity contains the heart and lungs.

• It is subdivided into the left and right pleural

cavities and the mediastinum (pericardial cavity)

– Each pleural cavity contains one lung lined by the

visceral and parietal pleura (serous membranes)

– The mediastinum (pericardial cavity) contains the

pericardium, another serous membrane that surrounds

the heart

Thoracic Cavities

• The abdominopelvic cavity is lined by the

peritoneum (serous membrane)

– The abdominal cavity extends from the diaphragm to

the superior margins of the pelvis

• liver, stomach, spleen and most of the large intestine

Abdominopelvic Cavity

– The pelvic cavity is bordered by the pelvis,

with a floor of muscle

• reproductive organs, urinary bladder and the final

portion of the large intestine

Abdominopelvic Cavity