Anatomical Positioning Flashcards
Back surface (or towards the back)
Posterior or Dorsal
Front surface or area towards the front
Anterior or ventral
Head
Cranial
Bottom
Caudal
Above or closer to the head
Superior
Element below or closer to the feet
Inferior
Top of limb or closer to centre of the body
Proximal
End of limb
Farther from the centre of the body
Distal
Closer to the Midline of the body
Medial
Further from the midline of the body (Edge of Body)
Lateral
Sagittal plane
Divides the body (or structure) into left and right from the patient’s perspective
Transverse plane
Divides the body into superior and inferior
Frontal plane
Separates anterior (front) and posterior (back)
Cranial Cavity
Cavity within the skull and houses the brain.
Cranial cavity Lined by membranes called meninges
Lined by membranes called meninges
Spinal cavity
Long narrow space within the vertebral column (spine) and contains the spinal cord. Protected by vertebrae and lined by meninges
Thoracic cavity
This cavity is surrounded by rib cage and contains lungs, heart, major blood vessels. Separated from the abdominal cavity by the diaphragm
Pleural cavity
Contains lungs
Mediastinum
Located between lungs and contains the heart, major blood vessels, thymus, esophagus
Pericardial cavity
Surrounds the heart
Abdominal cavity
Located below the diaphragm and is bound by the abdominal muscles. Houses liver, stomach, intestines, kidneys and spleen
Pelvic cavity
Contains bladder, reproductive organs, parts of the large intestine
Ventral cavities
House organs involved with respiration , digestion, excretion, reproduction
Cephalic region
Head region
Cervical region
Neck region
Thoracic region
Upper part of the trunk located between the neck and abdomen
Abdomen region
Central part of the trunk located between
Pelvic region
Lower part of the trunk located between the abdomen and the lower limbs
Upper extremities
Arms, shoulders etc
Lower extremities
Hips, thigh (femurs), lower legs (tibia, and fibula), ankles, feet, toes
