Anatomy & Physiology 1
Lab #1:
*Terminology
*Body Cavities & Membranes
*Rat Dissection
Anatomical Position
Standard frame of reference for anatomical
description & dissection
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Person stands erect
Feet flat on floor
Arms at sides
Palms, eyes & face facing forward
Anatomical Planes
Planes are imaginary flat surfaces passing
through the body
• Sagittal plane
– divides the body into right and left halves
• Frontal (coronal) plane
– divides the body into front and back portions
• Transverse (horizontal) plane
– divides the body into upper and lower portions
Terms of Position
• Superior: upper or above
• Inferior: lower or below
• Anterior: toward the front
• Posterior: toward the back
• Cranial: toward the head
• Caudal: toward the feet
• Ventral: anterior
• Dorsal: posterior
Terms of Position (cont’d)
• Medial: toward the middle (medial plane)
• Lateral: away from the middle
• Proximal: closer to the point of attachment or origin
• Distal: farther from the point of attachment or origin
• Supine: facing up
• Prone: facing down
Forearm Positions
• Supine
– palms face forward or
upward
– radius & ulna are parallel
• Prone
– palms face rearward or
downward
– radius & ulna are crossed
Abdominal References
• Quadrants:
– RUQ - right upper quadrant
– RLQ - right lower quadrant
– LUQ - left upper quadrant
– LLQ - left lower quadrant
Abdominal References
Nine Regions
– defined by four lines that intersect like a tic-tac-toe
grid
– Each vertical line is called R or L lateral plane
– Superior horizontal line is the transpyloric plane
– Inferior horizontal line is the transtubercular plane
Nine Regions
hypochondriac
region
epigastric
region
hypochondriac
region
Lateral lumbar
region
umbilical
region
lateral lumbar
region
iliac
region
hypogastric
region
iliac
region
Body Cavities
• Body cavities are lined with serous
membranes
• The body is internally divided into two
major body cavities, dorsal and ventral
• The organs within them are called viscera
Dorsal
Ventral
Dorsal Body Cavity
• The dorsal body cavity has two
subdivisions:
– Cranium Cavity
– Vertebral Canal
• The dorsal body cavity is lined by three membrane
layers called the meninges
Ventral Body Cavity
• Thoracic Cavity
– pleural cavity (lungs)
– pericardial cavity (heart)
---------diaphram----------
• Abdominopelvic Cavity
– abdominal Cavity
– pelvic Cavity
Cavities and Membranes
• Within the Thoracic Cavity a two-layered
membrane called the pericardium encloses
the heart and a two-layered membrane called
the pleura encloses the lungs
• The abdominopelvic cavity contains a
membrane called the peritoneum
Body Cavity Membranes
• Parietal membranes lines the cavity
– parietal pleura of the thoracic cavity
– parietal pericardium of the heart
– parietal peritoneum of the abdominopelvic cavity
• Visceral membranes form the external surface of
organs
– visceral pleura of the lungs
– visceral pericardium of the heart
– visceral peritoneum of the digestive organs
Membrane Cavities
• The narrow moist space formed
between the visceral and parietal
membranes are cavities lubricated
with serous fluid
– pleural cavity - pleural fluid
– pericardial cavity - pericardial fluid
– peritoneal cavity - peritoneal fluid
Greater and Lesser Omentum
• An “apron” which is an extension of the
peritoneum; contains adipose tissue
• Lesser omentum extends from the liver
and covers the stomach
• Greater omentum extends from the
stomach to the posterior abdominal wall
Rat Dissection
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Partners: gown, gloves, goggles
Wash specimen with soap and place on tray
Cut as directed; DON’T BUTCHER!
View all the organ structures listed for the
practical (do not remove the organs)
• Wrap and bag specimen; label