Medical Terminology

A Review of the Human Body

The Anatomical Position• - erect standing

position - feet slightly separated - arms hanging

relaxed at the sides

- palms of hands facing forward

Anatomical Planes• FRONTAL (or coronal)

separates the body into Anterior and Posterior parts

• MIDSAGITTAL (or

median sagittal) separates body into equal Right and Left parts

• TRANSVERSE separates

the body into Superior and Inferior parts

• SAGITTAL any plane dividing the body into a left side and right side

Body Directions• Medial means

closer to the midline or middle.

• Lateral means further from the midline or toward the side. 

• Anterior (Ventral) -at or toward the front

• Posterior (Dorsal) - at or toward the back

• Superior – above• Inferior – below• Proximal – nearer to the

point of attachment (the trunk)

• Distal – farther from the point of attachment

• Cephalic or cranial – toward the head

• Caudal – toward the lower end of the spine or buttocks

Body Cavities– dorsal body cavity

• cranial cavity – protects the brain

• Spinal cavity – spinal cord

– ventral body cavity• thoracic cavity – heart

and lungs• abdominopelvic cavity

– abdominal cavity –digestive organs

– pelvic cavity – reproductive and urinary organs

Pelvic cavity

Abdominal cavity

Diaphragm

Thoracic cavity

Cranial cavity

Dorsal c a vit y Ventral cavitySpinal

cavity

Divisions of the Abdomen

Regions• Right and Left Right and Left

hypochondriachypochondriac regions are below the ribs.

• EpigastricEpigastric region is upon or above the stomach

• Right and left lumbar Right and left lumbar regionsregions. Lumbar refers to the inward curve of the spine.

• Umbilical regionUmbilical region. (umbilic means naval and al means pertaining to.

• Right and left iliac regionsRight and left iliac regions refer to the hipbone area.

• HypogastricHypogastric region is below the stomach. The entire lower region of the abdomen is also referred to as the groin or inguinal area.

Peritoneum• The peritoneum is the

membrane that protects and supports the organs in the abdominal cavity.

• MED TERM ALERT ! -periton means peritoneum

-retro means behind or backward

Retroperitoneal means pertaining to behind the periotoneum.

Don’t forget

• lapar/o means abdomen