BODY PLANES, REGIONS, QUADRANTS & CAVITIES Flashcards
midsagittal plane
“midline of the body”
(median)
The ____________ divides the body or structure into equal right and left portions.
The ____________ is a vertical plane through the middle of the body that divides the body into equal right and left halves; also known as the median plane.
long axis
The imaginary line created by directing a vertical line through the middle of the body from the top of the head to a space equidistant between the feet, essentially the midline of the body.
frontal plane
(coronal)
Any of the vertical planes passing through the body from the head to the feet, perpendicular to the sagittal planes and dividing the body into front and back portions (also known as the coronal plane).
transverse plane
Any of the planes cutting across the body, perpendicular to the sagittal and the frontal planes and dividing the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions.
Region 1
Right Hypochondriac Region
Located in the upper-right section of the abdomen, beneath the cartilage of the lower ribs, the superficial organs visible in the right hypochondriac region include the right lobe of the liver and the gallbladder.
Region 2
Epigastric region
Located between the right and left hypochondriac regions in the upper section of the abdomen, beneath the cartilage of the lower ribs; the superficial organs visible in the epigastric region include parts of the right and left lobes of the liver and a major portion of the stomach.
Region 3
Left Hypochondriac Region
Located in the upper-left section of the abdomen, beneath the cartilage of the lower ribs; the superficial organs visible in the left hypochondriac region include a small portion of the stomach and a portion of the large intestine.
Region 4
Right lumbar region
Located in the middle-right section of the abdomen, beneath the right hypochondriac region; the superficial organs visible in the right lumbar region include portions of the large and small intestines.
Region 5
Umbilical region
Located in the middle section of the abdomen, between the right and left lumbar regions and directly beneath the epigastric region; the superficial organs visible in the umbilical region include a portion of the transverse colon and portions of the small intestine.
Region 6
Left lumbar region
Located in the middle-left section of the abdomen, beneath the left hypochondriac region; the superficial organs visible in the left lumbar region include portions of the small intestine and part of the colon.
Region 7
Right inguinal (iliac) region
Located in the lower-right section of the abdomen, beneath the right lumbar region; the superficial organs visible in the right inguinal (iliac) region include the appendix and portions of the small intestine and the cecum.
Region 8
Hypogastric region
Located in the lower-middle section of the abdomen, beneath the umbilical region; the superficial organs visible in the hypogastric region include the urinary bladder and portions of the small intestine
Region 9
Left inguinal (iliac) region
Located in the lower-left section of the abdomen, beneath the left lumbar region; the superficial organs visible in the left inguinal (iliac) region include portions of the colon and the small intestine.
Quadrant 1
Right Upper Quadrant
(RUQ)
Quadrant 2
Left Upper Quadrant
(LUQ)
Quadrant 3
Right Lower Quadrant
(RLQ)
Quadrant 4
Left Lower Quadrant
(LLQ)
Ventral Cavity Subdivisions
(1) thoracic cavity
The thoracic cavity contains the lungs**, **heart**, **aorta**, **esophagus**, and **trachea.
thorac/o = chest
-ic = pertaining to
Ventral Cavity Subdivisions
(2) abdominal cavity
The abdominal cavity is separated from the thoracic cavity by the diaphragm (the muscle that aids in the process of breathing). The abdominal cavity contains the liver, gallbladder, spleen, stomach, pancreas, intestines, and kidneys.
- abdomin/o = abdomen
- al = pertaining to
Ventral Cavity Subdivisions
(3) pelvic cavity
The pelvic cavity contains the urinary bladder and reproductive organs. The pelvic cavity and the abdominal cavity are often addressed collectively as the abdominopelvic cavity, which refers to the space between the diaphragm and the groin.
pelv/i = pelvis
-ic = pertaining to
Dorsal Cavity Subdivisions
(4) cranial cavity
The cranial cavity contains the brain.
crani/o = skull
-al = pertaining to
Dorsal Cavity Subdivisions
(5) spinal cavity
The spinal cavity contains the nerves of the spinal cord.
spin/o = spine
-al = pertaining to
Divisions of the Back
(1) cervical vertebrae
The cervical vertebrae, consisting of the first seven segments of the spinal column, make up the bones of the neck (cervic/o = neck).
The abbreviations for the cervical vertebrae range from C1 to C7. These abbreviations are used to pinpoint the exact area of involvement with the cervical vertebrae.
cervic/o = neck
-al = pertaining to
Divisions of the Back
(2) thoracic vertebrae
The thoracic vertebrae, consisting of the next 12 segments (or vertebrae of the spinal column) make up the vertebral bones of the chest (thorac/o = chest or thorax).
The abbreviations for the thoracic vertebrae range from T1 to T12. These abbreviations are also used to pinpoint the exact area of or involvement with the thoracic vertebrae.
thorac/o = chest
-ic = pertaining to
Divisions of the Back
(3) lumbar vertebrae
The lumbar vertebrae consist of five large segments of the movable part of the spinal column.
Identified as L1 through L5, the lumbar vertebrae are the largest and strongest of the vertebrae of the spinal column.
lumb/o = loins, lower back
-ar = pertaining to
Divisions of the Back
(4) sacrum
The sacrum, located below the lumbar vertebrae, is the fourth segment of the spinal column.
This single, triangular-shaped bone is a result of the fusion of the five individual sacral bones in the child.
sacr/o = sacrum
-um = noun ending
Divisions of the Back
(5) coccyx
(COCK-siks)
The fifth segment of the vertebral column is the coccyx.
It is located at the very end of the vertebral column and is also called the tailbone.
The adult coccyx is a single bone that is the result of the fusion of the four individual coccygeal bones in the child.
