Ancient Greek and Latin words are used to build anatomical terms. A standard reference position for mapping the body’s structures is the normal anatomical position. Regions of the body are identified using terms such as “occipital” that are more precise than common words and phrases such as “the back of the head.” Directional terms such as anterior and posterior, superior and inferior, medial and lateral, are essential for accurately describing the relative locations of body structures. Images of the body’s interior commonly align along one of three planes: the sagittal, frontal, or transverse. The body’s organs are organized in one of two main cavities—dorsal (also referred to posterior) and ventral (also referred to anterior)—which are further sub-divided according to the structures present in each area. The serous membranes have two layers—parietal and visceral—surrounding a fluid filled space. Serous membranes cover the lungs (pleural serosa), heart (pericardial serosa), and some abdominopelvic organs (peritoneal serosa).
abdominopelvic cavity
division of the anterior (ventral) cavity that houses the abdominal and pelvic viscera
anatomical position
standard reference position used for describing locations and directions on the human body
anterior
describes the front or direction toward the front of the body; also referred to as ventral
anterior cavity
larger body cavity located anterior to the posterior (dorsal) body cavity; includes the serous membrane-lined pleural cavities for the lungs, pericardial cavity for the heart, and peritoneal cavity for the abdominal and pelvic organs; also referred to as ventral cavity
caudal
describes a position below or lower than another part of the body proper; near or toward the tail (in humans, the coccyx, or lowest part of the spinal column); also referred to as inferior
cranial
describes a position above or higher than another part of the body proper; also referred to as superior
cranial cavity
division of the posterior (dorsal) cavity that houses the brain
deep
describes a position farther from the surface of the body
distal
describes a position farther from the point of attachment or the trunk of the body
dorsal
describes the back or direction toward the back of the body; also referred to as posterior
dorsal cavity
posterior body cavity that houses the brain and spinal cord; also referred to the posterior body cavity
frontal plane
two-dimensional, vertical plane that divides the body or organ into anterior and posterior portions
inferior
describes a position below or lower than another part of the body proper; near or toward the tail (in humans, the coccyx, or lowest part of the spinal column); also referred to as caudal
lateral
describes the side or direction toward the side of the body
medial
describes the middle or direction toward the middle of the body
pericardium
sac that encloses the heart
peritoneum
serous membrane that lines the abdominopelvic cavity and covers the organs found there
plane
imaginary two-dimensional surface that passes through the body
pleura
serous membrane that lines the pleural cavity and covers the lungs
posterior
describes the back or direction toward the back of the body; also referred to as dorsal
posterior cavity
posterior body cavity that houses the brain and spinal cord; also referred to as dorsal cavity
prone
face down
proximal
describes a position nearer to the point of attachment or the trunk of the body
sagittal plane
two-dimensional, vertical plane that divides the body or organ into right and left sides
section
in anatomy, a single flat surface of a three-dimensional structure that has been cut through
serous membrane
membrane that covers organs and reduces friction; also referred to as serosa
serosa
membrane that covers organs and reduces friction; also referred to as serous membrane
spinal cavity
division of the dorsal cavity that houses the spinal cord; also referred to as vertebral cavity
superficial
describes a position nearer to the surface of the body
superior
describes a position above or higher than another part of the body proper; also referred to as cranial
supine
face up
thoracic cavity
division of the anterior (ventral) cavity that houses the heart, lungs, esophagus, and trachea
transverse plane
two-dimensional, horizontal plane that divides the body or organ into superior and inferior portions
ventral
describes the front or direction toward the front of the body; also referred to as anterior
ventral cavity
larger body cavity located anterior to the posterior (dorsal) body cavity; includes the serous membrane-lined pleural cavities for the lungs, pericardial cavity for the heart, and peritoneal cavity for the abdominal and pelvic organs; also referred to as anterior body cavity
1. What is the position of the body when it is in the “normal anatomical position?”
A) The person is prone with upper limbs, including palms, touching sides and lower limbs touching at sides.
B) The person is standing facing the observer, with upper limbs extended out at a ninety-degree angle from the torso and lower limbs in a wide stance with feet pointing laterally
C) The person is supine with upper limbs, including palms, touching sides and lower limbs touching at sides.
D) None of the above
D
2. To make a banana split, you halve a banana into two long, thin, right and left sides along the ________.
A) coronal plane
B) longitudinal plane
C) midsagittal plane
D) transverse plane
C
3. The lumbar region is ________.
A) inferior to the gluteal region
B) inferior to the umbilical region
C) superior to the cervical region
D) superior to the popliteal region
D
4. The heart is within the ________.
A) cranial cavity
B) mediastinum
C) posterior (dorsal) cavity
D) All of the above
B
1. In which direction would an MRI scanner move to produce sequential images of the body in the frontal plane, and in which direction would an MRI scanner move to produce sequential images of the body in the sagittal plane?
If the body were supine or prone, the MRI scanner would move from top to bottom to produce frontal sections, which would divide the body into anterior and posterior portions, as in “cutting” a deck of cards. Again, if the body were supine or prone, to produce sagittal sections, the scanner would move from left to right or from right to left to divide the body lengthwise into left and right portions.
2. If a bullet were to penetrate a lung, which three anterior thoracic body cavities would it enter, and which layer of the serous membrane would it encounter first?
The bullet would enter the ventral, thoracic, and pleural cavities, and it would encounter the parietal layer of serous membrane first.