Human Anatomy and Physiology: Anatomical Terminology, Positions, Planes, and Sections:

Frontal (coronal) plane:

A longitudinal plane that divides the body (or an organ) into anterior and posterior parts.

Transverse plane:

A plane that runs horizontally, dividing the body into superior and inferior sections.

Sagittal plane:

A plane that runs lengthwise or longitudinally down the length of the body, dividing it into right and left parts, is a sagittal plane. If it divided the body into equal parts, down the midline of the body, it is called a median, or midsagittal plane.

Lumbar regions:

Between the ribs and the flaring portions of the hip bones; lateral to the umbilical region.

Surface Anatomy:

Body surfaces provide a number of visible landmarks that can be used to study the body.

Hypochondriac regions:

Flanking the epigastric region laterally and overlying the lower ribs.

Hypogastic (pubic) region

Immediately inferior to the umbilical region; encompasses the pubic area.

Epigastric region:

Immediately superior to the umbilical region; overlies most of the stomach.

Anterior/posterior (front/back):

In humans the most anterior structures are those that are most forward-the-face, chest, and abdomen. Posterior structures are those toward the backside of the body.

Cephalad/caudad (caudal) (toward the head/toward the tail):

In humans, these terms are used interchangeably with superior and inferior. But in four-legged animals, they are synonyms of anterior and posterior, respectively.

Iliac regions:

Lateral to the hypogastric region and overlying the superior parts of the hip bones.

Ventral Body Cavity:

Like the dorsal cavity, the ventral body cavity is subdivided.

Dorsal/ventral (backside/belly side):

Meaning "back," the term dorsal refers to the animal's back or backside of any other structures. The term ventral, meaning "belly," always refers to the belly side of animals. In humans, the terms ventral and dorsal are used interchangeably with the terms anterior and posterior, but in four-legged animals ventral and dorsal mean inferior and superior, respectively.

Medial/lateral (towards the midline/away from the midline or median plane):

Medial structures are closer to the body midline than are lateral structures.

Demonstrating the Anatomical Position:

Stand, and assume the anatomical position. Notice that it is not particularly comfortable, because you must hold your hands unnaturally forward instead of allowing them to hang partially cupped toward your thighs.

Abdominopelvic Quadrants and Regions:

The abdominopelvic cavity is quite large and contains many organs, so it is helpful to divide it up into smaller areas for study.

Body, Planes, and Sections

The body is three-dimensional. So, to observe its internal parts, it often helps to make use of a section or cut made along an imaginary surface or line called a plane. There are three planes, or sections, that lie at right angles to one another.

Abdominopelvic Cavity:

The cavity inferior to the diaphragm is the abdominopelvic cavity. Although there is no further physical separation of this part of the ventral cavity, some describe the abdominopelvic cavity in terms of a superior abdominal cavity, the area that houses the stomach, intestines, liver, and other organs.

Umbilical region:

The centermost region, which includes the umbillicus.

Dorsal Body Cavity:

The dorsal body cavity consists of the cranial and spinal cavities. The cranial cavity, within the rigid skull, contains the brain. The spinal cavity, which runs within the bony vertebral column, protects the spinal cord. The spinal cord is a continuation of the brain, and the cavities containing them are continuous with each other.

Pelvic Cavity:

The inferior pelvic cavity, which is partially enclosed by the bony pelvis and contains the reproductive organs, bladder, and rectum. Notice that the pelvic cavity tips away from the abdominal cavity in a posterior direction.

Medical scheme:

The medical scheme divides the abdominal surface (and the abdominopelvic cavity deep to it) into four approximately equal regions called quadrants, named according to their relative position- they are right upper quadrant, right lower quadrant, left upper quadrant, and left lower quadrant

Thoracic Cavity:

The superior thoracic cavity is separated from the rest of the ventral cavity by the muscular diaphragm. The heart and lungs, located in the thoracic cavity, are protected by the bony rib cage.

Superficial/deep (toward or at the body surface/away. from the body surface or move internal):

These terms locate body organs according to their relative closeness to the body surface. For example, the skin is superficial to the skeletal muscles.

Proximal/distal (nearest the trunk or attached end/farther from the trunk or point of attachment):

These terms locate various areas along the body limbs or an elongated organ such as the intestine. For example, the fingers are distal to the elbow; the knee is proximal to the toes.

Superior/inferior (above/below):

These terms refer to the location of a structure along the long axis of the body. Superior structures appear above other structures, and inferior structures are always below other body parts.

Proper Anatomical Position:

When doctors refer to specific areas of the human body, they do so relative to a standard position called the anatomical position. In the anatomical position, the human body is erect, with head and toes pointed forward and arms hanging at the sides with palms facing forward.

The trachea (windpipe) is _________ to the spine

anterior

Abdominal:

anterior body trunk inferior to the ribs

Antecubital:

anterior surface of the elbow

Lumbar:

area of the back between the ribs and hips; the loin

The skin is _________ to the skeleton

deep

The chest is _________ to the abdomen

distal

The kidneys are _________ to the liver

dorsal

The wrist is _________ to the hand

proximal

Deltoid:

roundness of the shoulder caused by the underlying deltoid muscle

The brain is _________ to the spinal cord

superior

Tarsal:

the ankle

Patellar:

the anterior knee (kneecap) region

Sacral:

the area between the hips

Vertebral:

the area of the spinal column

Brachial:

the arm

Axillary:

the armpit

Popliteal:

the back of the knee

Orbital:

the bony eye socket

Mammary:

the breast

Gluteal:

the buttocks or rump

Sural:

the calf or posterior surface of the leg

Buccal:

the cheek

Thoracic:

the chest

Digital:

the figures or toes

Pubic:

the genital region

Inguinal:

the groin

Manus:

the hand

Cephalic:

the head

Coxal:

the hip

Oral:

the mouth

Umbilical:

the navel

Cervical:

the neck region

Nasal:

the nose

Pelvic:

the pelvis region

Occipital:

the posterior aspect of the head or base of the skull

Sternal:

the region of the breastbone

Scapular:

the scapula or shoulder blade area

Fibular:

the side of the leg

Femoral:

the thigh

Carpal:

the wrist

The nose is to _________ the cheekbones

ventral