Overview
This lecture covered the foundational anatomical language, including planes of the body, regional terminology, body cavities, quadrants and regions, and types of body membranes essential for effective communication in anatomy.
Anatomical Planes and Directions
- The midsagittal plane divides the body into left and right halves; only one exists.
- Sagittal planes are parallel to midsagittal, creating many possible side-to-side sections.
- The transverse (horizontal) plane separates the body into superior (cranial) and inferior (caudal) parts.
- The coronal (frontal) plane divides the body into anterior (ventral) and posterior (dorsal) sections.
- The oblique plane cuts the body at an angle and has no specific terminology.
- Directional terms: medial (closer to midline), lateral (farther from midline), proximal (closer to trunk), distal (farther from trunk), superficial (closer to surface), deep (further from surface), ipsilateral (same side), contralateral (opposite side), intermediate (between two structures).
Anatomical Position and Body Regions
- Anatomical position: standing, facing forward, palms forward.
- Major body regions include: head (frontal, occipital, orbital, nasal, buccal, mental, auricular/otic), neck (cervical), trunk (thoracic, mammary, pectoral, axillary, scapular, vertebral, lumbar, abdominal, umbilical, pelvic, inguinal, pubic, perineal).
- Upper limbs: brachial, antebrachial, antecubital, olecranal, carpal, palmar, dorsal hand, digital, pollex.
- Lower limbs: coxal, femoral, patellar, popliteal, crural, sural, tarsal, calcaneal, plantar, hallux.
Body Cavities
- Dorsal cavity: includes cranial (brain) and vertebral (spinal cord) cavities.
- Ventral cavity: includes thoracic (pleural cavities for lungs, mediastinum with heart and thymus), and abdominopelvic (abdominal: stomach, liver, intestines, kidneys; pelvic: bladder, reproductive organs, rectum).
Abdominopelvic Quadrants and Regions
- Four quadrants: right upper, left upper, right lower, left lower (know major organs in each).
- Nine regions: umbilical, epigastric (above stomach), hypogastric (below stomach), right/left hypochondriac, right/left lumbar, right/left iliac.
Body Membranes
- Cutaneous membrane: skin.
- Mucous membrane: lines organs open to the exterior (respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive tracts, eyes).
- Serous membrane: covers organs in body cavities, secretes lubricating fluid to reduce friction.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Midsagittal Plane — divides body into equal left and right halves.
- Transverse Plane — horizontal cut, divides into superior/inferior.
- Coronal Plane — divides body into anterior/posterior.
- Proximal/Distal — closer/farther from trunk (limbs).
- Lateral/Medial — farther/closer to midline.
- Ipsilateral/Contralateral — same/opposite side of the body.
- Superficial/Deep — near/far from body surface.
- Body cavity — space within body containing organs.
- Cutaneous, Mucous, Serous membranes — types of body coverings.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Memorize major anatomical planes, regions, cavities, and directional terms.
- Review the labeled/unlabeled diagrams provided on Blackboard.
- Study body region and quadrant organ distributions for upcoming exam.
- Continue with anatomical terminology in the next class.