Anatomical Terms & Body Cavities

Unit 1 Lesson 2

Guiding Question:• What are the anatomical and directional terms I

need to know in A & P?

Section 4: Anatomical Terms

• Landmarks around the body create a map for orientation

• Based on Latin or Greek words used by ancient anatomists

• Many terms also were initially named after the discoverer or the most famous victim (diseases)

Superficial and regional anatomy

• Anatomical position– Standing up– Hands at the sides– Palms facing forward– Feet together

– Laying down in anatomical position• Supine (face up)• Prone (face down)

Figure 1.9 1

Cranial

Posterioror dorsal

Anterioror ventral

Caudal

The principal directional terms

Superior

Inferior

Right Left

Proximal

Lateral Medial

Proximal

Distal

Distal

Relative to front (belly side) or back (back side) of the body: Anterior Anterior = In front of;

toward the head or front surface of an organ

PosteriorPosterior = In back of; toward the tail or back surface of an organ

DorsalDorsal =At the back side of the human body

VentralVentral = At the belly side of the human body

Front/Back

Relative to the head or tail of the body: SuperiorSuperior = above

(means upper) InferiorInferior = below

(means lower)

Head/Toe

Relative to the midline or center of the body: MedialMedial = Toward the

midline of the body LateralLateral = Away from

the midline of the body DeepDeep = On the inside,

underneath the surface SuperficialSuperficial = On the

outside or surface of the body

Inside/Outside

Relative to point of attachment of the appendage: ProximalProximal =

Closest to point of attachment to trunk

DistalDistal = Furthest from point of attachment to trunk

Close To/Far Away

The human body is partitioned into two main regions, called the axial and appendicular regions. the axial regionaxial region includes the head,

neck, and trunk which comprise the main vertical axis of our body

Our limbs, or appendages, attach to the body’s axis and make up the appendicular regionappendicular region

Body Regions

Body Cavities: Dorsal SideCranial CavityCranial Cavity

Houses the Brain

Vertebral CanalVertebral CanalHouses the Spinal Cord

Body Cavities: Ventral Side

Thoracic CavityThoracic CavityChest region

Abdominopelvic CavityAbdominopelvic CavityAbdominal CavityPelvic Cavity

Body Cavities: Thoracic(Anterior View)

Plural CavitiesPlural Cavities: houses the lungs

Pericardial CavityPericardial Cavity: houses the heart

Answer the guiding question

Add your notes to your table of contents!

We’re Done!