| A | B |
|---|
| Anatomical Position | Standardized body position: standing upright with body erect, facing forward, arms at sides with palms forward, feet flat, eyes forward |
| Body Plane | Imaginary flat surface that divides the body into sections |
| Frontal (Coronal) Plane | Divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions |
| Sagittal Plane | Divides the body into unequal left and right portions |
| Midsagittal Plane | Divides the body into equal left and right sides |
| Transverse (Axial) Plane | Divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions |
| Anterior | Front of the body |
| Posterior | Back of the body |
| Ventral | Belly or front side of the body |
| Dorsal | Back or spinal side of the body |
| Superior | Above or closer to the head |
| Inferior | Below or closer to the feet |
| Directional Terms | Terms used to describe the location of body structures relative to one another |
| Body Cavity | Internal space that houses and protects organs |
| Dorsal Cavity | Posterior cavity containing the brain and spinal cord |
| Cranial Cavity | Space within the skull that contains the brain |
| Spinal (Vertebral) Cavity | Space within the vertebral column that contains the spinal cord |
| Ventral Cavity | Anterior cavity containing thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities |
| Thoracic Cavity | Upper ventral cavity containing the lungs and heart; surrounded by ribs and diaphragm |
| Pleura | Membrane surrounding the lungs |
| Pericardium | Membrane surrounding the heart |
| Abdominal Cavity | Contains digestive organs such as stomach, liver, intestines, and pancreas; surrounded by muscles of the core |
| Peritoneum | Double-layered membrane lining the walls and organs of the abdominal cavity |
| Parietal Peritoneum | Outer layer lining the abdominal wall |
| Visceral Peritoneum | Inner layer covering abdominal organs |
| Pelvic Cavity | Cavity enclosed by the hip bones; contains bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum |
| Abdomen | Region containing digestive organs |
| Abdominal Quadrants | Four sections of the abdomen formed by midsagittal and transverse planes |
| Right Upper Quadrant | Upper right section of the abdomen |
| Left Upper Quadrant | Upper left section of the abdomen |
| Right Lower Quadrant | Lower right section of the abdomen |
| Left Lower Quadrant | Lower left section of the abdomen |
| Abdominal Regions | Nine-region system for more precise location of organs |
| Hypochondriac Regions | Upper lateral regions of the abdomen, just below the ribs |
| Epigastric Region | Upper middle region of the abdomen that lies above the stomach near the lower end of the sternum |
| Lumbar Regions | Middle lateral regions of the abdomen |
| Umbilical Region | Central region of the abdomen around the navel |
| Iliac Regions | Lower lateral regions of the abdomen near the hip |
| Hypogastric Region | Lower middle region of the abdomen |
| Distal | Farther from the point of origin |
| Proximal | Near the point of origin |
| Medial | Towards the middle |
| Cephalic | Towards the head |
| Caudal | Towards the tailbone or base of the spine |
| Lateral | Towards the side |
