ORGANISATION OF THE
BODY STRUCTURES
BODY CAVITIES
• It is a space within the body that contains internal
organs
• Group of cells that are identical in their structure
and function makes up tissues
• Tissues that are different in their structure and
function make up an organ
• Organs make up an organ system
DIVISIONS OF BODY CAVITIES
Major body cavities are
• Ventral body cavity - one which lies in the front,
derived from latin word venter (er –suffix)means –
belly
• Dorsal body cavity- one which lies behind or back
,derived from latin word dorsum means back (alsuffix)
Subdvisions
• Ventral body cavity
Thoracic cavity
Abdominopelvic cavity
• Dorsal body cavity
Cranial cavity
Spinal cavity
CAVITIES IN THE BODY
• 1. Cranial cavity- contains brain and pituitary gland
• 2. Thoracic cavity- contains lungs ,heart,
oesophagus, trachea ,bronchial tubes, thymus
gland, large arteries
Subdivisions of thoracic cavity
Pleural cavity – space surrounding lungs lined by a
double folded membrane called pleura
Mediastinum – central located area between two
lungs that contains heart, aorta, trachea ,
esophagus, thymus ,bronchial tubes .lymph nodes
• 3. Abdominal cavity- contains abdominal visceras
like stomach, intestines, spleen, pancreas, liver , gall
bladder, kidneys (abdomen = abdodere= to hide)
• Covered by a double folded membrane called
peritoneum except kidneys ( lies behind the
peritoneum)
• 4. Pelvic cavity- contains portions of intestines,
rectum, urinary bladder, urethra, ureters, uterus and
vagina in females.
• 5. Spinal cavity- contains spinal cord.
PLEURA AND PERITONEUM
• Diaphragm – is a musculoaponeurotic partition that
separates thoracic cavity from abdomino pelvic
cavity
DIVISIONS OF THE SPINAL COLUMN
• It is made up of series of bones called vertebrae
extending from neck to tailbone(coccyx)
Cervical – 7 – in neck region
Thoracic – 12- in thorax
Lumbar – 5 – in the groin (hip region)
Sacral- 5 – fuses to form bone of lower back
Coccygeal- 4- small bones forming the tail bone
• Spinal cord is present within the cavity formed by
spinal column.
• Spaces between each vertebrae has a disc (a pad
like structure formed by cartilage)
BODY SYSTEMS
Group of organs make up a body system. They are
Integumentary system- ( latin word - covering )includes skin, nails , hair, sweat and sebaceous
glands
Digestive system- includes mouth, pharynx,
oesophagus, stomach , small and large intestines,
liver , gall baldder, pancreas
Urinary system- includes kidneys, ureter, urinary
bladder, urethra
Respiratory system- includes nose, pharynx, larynx,
trachea, bronchial tubes, lungs.
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
Reproductive system- includes ovaries, fallopian
tubes, uterus, vagina mammary glands in females
and testes and its duct systems, urethra, penis ,
prostate in males
Endocrine system(hormone secreting) – includes
thyroid and parathyroid gland in neck , pituitary
gland in cranial cavity, sex glands like ovaries and
testes, adrenal glands, pancreas
Nervous system- includes brain, spinal cord, nerves.
Circulatory system- includes heart and blood
vessels (arteries and veins) ,lymph vessels, spleen
Musculoskeletal system- includes bones, muscles,
joints
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
NERVOUS SYSTEM AND URINARY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY & CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
BODY PLANES
What is anatomical postion ?
• In this postion person stands erect (standing on his
feet) , facing forward, with upper limbs hanging at
the side of the trunk and palms of the hand facing
forwards.
PLANES OF THE BODY
Sagittal plane
Coronal plane
Transverse plane
Planes of the body
• Frontal ( coronal plane )- is a vertical plane dividing
the body into anterior and posterior halves
• Sagittal plane – is a vertical plane dividing the body
into right and left halves
• Transverse plane (cross sectional /axial) – is a
horizontal plane dividing the body into upper and
lower portions
POSITIONAL AND DIRECTIONAL TERMS
Anterior – front side of the body
• Eg: forehead lies anterior to the body
Posterior – back side of the body
• Scapula lies posterior to the body
Superficial – on the surface
• Veins are superficial
Deep – away from surface
• Eg: kidney lies deep in the abdomen
Proximal – towards the midline of the body
• Eg: humerus is a proximal bone of the upper limb
Distal – away from the midline of the body
• eg: radius (bone in forearm) is distal to humerus
Superior( cephalic ) – above another structure
• Eg : head is superior to neck
Inferior (caudal ) – below another structure
• Eg : feet is inferior to the body
Medial – towards the midline of the body
• Eg : little finger is medial to ring finger
Lateral – away from the midline of the body
• Eg: thumb is lateral to index finger
Supine – lying on the back
• Eg:position of person while sleeping
Prone – lying on the belly
• Eg: position of person while sleeping with face
downwards