Body Planes, Directions, and
Cavities
Body Planes
• Imaginary lines
drawn through the
body to separate the
body into sections
Transverse Plane
• A horizontal plane
dividing the body into a
top and bottom half
– Superior = body parts
above others
– Inferior = body parts
below others
Median/(Mid)Sagittal Plane
• Divides the body into
right and left sides
– Medial = body parts
located near the
middle/midline of the
body
– Lateral = body parts
located away from the
middle/midline of the
body
Frontal/Coronal Plane
• Divides the body into
front and back sections
– Anterior (Ventral) = body
parts on the front of the
body
– Posterior (Dorsal) = body
parts on the back of the
body
Additional Directional Terms:
• Superficial = towards the surface
• Deep = internal
• Proximal = body parts closer to the point of
reference (where the limb joins the body)
• Distal = body parts farther from the point of
reference (where the limb joins the body)
– **Proximal and distal are only used when
referring to the limbs**
Body Cavities
• Spaces within the body
which contain vital organs
• Dorsal Body Cavity
– Cranial cavity
– Spinal cavity
• Ventral Body Cavity
– Thoracic cavity
– Diaphragm—dome-shaped
muscle that aids in
breathing and separates
the thoracic and
abdominopelvic cavities
– Abdominopelvic cavity
Dorsal Body Cavity
• Cranial Cavity
– Contains the
brain
• Spinal Cavity
– Contains the
spinal cord
Ventral Body Cavity
• Thoracic Cavity
– Pleural cavity =
contains the lungs
– Pericardial cavity =
contains the heart
– Mediastinum = central
region that separates
the lungs sits between
the sternum and the
vertebral column
Ventral Body Cavity (ctd.)
• Abdominopelvic cavity
– Abdominal cavity =
upper part; contains the
stomach, small
intestines, most of the
large intestines (except
colon and rectum), liver,
gallbladder, pancreas
and spleen
– Pelvic cavity = lower
part; contains the
urinary bladder,
reproductive organs,
and the last part of the
large intestine (colon
and rectum)
Abdominal Regions and Quadrants