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 brain2. 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 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 Regions:

• Epigastric

• Umbilical

• Pelvic

• Hypochondriac

• Lateral

• Inguinal