Abdominal cavity
contains the stomach and other parts of the digestive tract and the liver, as well as other organs.
abdominopelvic cavity
includes the abdominal cavity and pelvic cavity.
Anatomical position
is a normal standing position, with the feet slightly apart, the face and shoulders facing forward, and the palms of the hands facing forward.
Anatomy
the study of the form or structure of living things, including plants, animals, and humans.
Anterior (ventral) body cavity
continuous internal opening that includes the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.
Cranial cavity
holds the brain
Frontal coronal) plane
an invisible, vertical flat surface that divides the body into front and back halves.
Metric System
international system of measurement that is used in all fields of science.
Middle ear cavities
openings in the skull that serve as chambers for transmitting and amplifying sound.
Nasal cavity
opening within the nose
Oral cavity
located within the mouth
Orbital cavities
hold the eyes
Pelvic cavities
internal opening that holds the reproductive and excretory organs
Physiology
the study of how living things function or work
Posterior (dorsal) body cavity
internal opening located near the back of the body that includes the cranial and spinal cavities.
Sagittal plane
an invisible, vertical flat surface that divides the body into right and left halves
Spinal Cavity
surrounds the spinal cord.
Thoracic cavity
the internal opening that houses the heart and lung
Transverse plane
an invisible, horizontal flat surface that divides the body into top and bottom halves.
Midsagittal (median) plane
divides the body (or organ) into equal left and right parts.
Superior (cranial)
toward the head end or upper part of a structure or the body; above
Inferior (caudal)
away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; below
Anterior (ventral)
toward or at the front of the body; in front of
Posterior (dorsal)
toward or at the backside of the body; behind
Medial
toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of
Lateral
away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of
Proximal
close to the origin of the body part or point of attachment to a limb to the body trunk
Distal
farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk
Superficial
toward or at the body surface
Deep
away from the body surface; more internal