Planes, Cavities, Quadrants, & Regions Flashcards
Plane
Imaginary flat surface that separates two portions of the body or an organ.
Median Plane
Vertical plane that passes through the midline of the body and divides the body or organ into equal right and left sides; also called the “midsagittal plane”
Frontal Plane
Plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions; also called the “coronal plane”
Horizontal Plane
Plane that separates the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions; also called the “transverse plane”
Body Cavities
Hollow spaces within the body that help protect, separate, and support internal organs.
Dorsal Cavity
(Back of the body) divided into the *Cranial cavity and *Spinal cavity which contain the brain and spinal cord. *Diaphragm [dome shaped muscle] separates the thoracic cavity and abdominal cavities and plays an important role in breathing.
Ventral Cavity
(Front of the body) subdivided into the *thoracic cavity which contains the heart and lungs. The *abdominopelvic cavity is further subdivided into the *abdominal and *pelvic cavities and contain organs of the digestive and reproductive systems.
Quadrants
4 quadrants identify the placement of internal organs in the abdominopelvic cavity. Used to report the findings of a clinical exam or an exploratory surgery. Used to describe pain, tumors, or other abnormalities.
Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)
Contains the right lobe or the liver, the gallbladder, part of the pancreas, and part of the small and large intestines.
Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)
Contains part of the small and large intestine, the appendix, the right ovary, the right Fallopian tube, and the right ureter.
Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)
Contains the left lobe of the liver, the stomach, the spleen, part of the pancreas, and part of the small and large intestines.
Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)
Contains part of the small and large intestine, the left ovary, the left Fallopian tube, and the left ureter.
Right Hypochondriac
Upper right region located under the cartilage of the ribs.
Left Hypochondriac
Upper left region under the cartilage of the ribs.
Right Lumbar
Middle right region located near the waist