Chapter 2: The Language of Anatomy
Anatomy Unit 2 Objectives:
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TSWBAT verbally describe or demonstrate
the anatomical position.
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TSWBAT use proper anatomical terminology
to describe body directions, regions, surfaces
and body planes
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TSWBAT locate the major body cavities, and
list the chief organs in each cavity.
Superficial Anatomy
Involves locating structures on or near
the body surface
 Understanding anatomical landmarks,
anatomical regions, and terms for
anatomical directions will help you
remember both the location of a
structure and its name.
 For example; the brachium refers to the
the arm and the brachialis muscle and the
brachial artery are located in the arm.
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Why have anatomical terminology?
To prevent misunderstandings, anatomists use
universally accepted terms to identify body structures
precisely and with a minimum of words
* It is important to remember
that the terms “left” and “right”
refer to those sides of the person
being viewed – not those of the
observer.
Anatomical Position
1. Body erect
2. Feet slightly apart
3. Palms facing forward
4. Thumbs point away from body
5. Similar to “standing at
attention”
Supine – person laying down in
anatomical position face up
Prone – face down
Figure 1.7a
Table 1.1
Table 1.1
Check Point
Create 4 examples using the directional terms.
1. Share/Check with a partner.
2. Be prepared to discuss your examples.
Regional Terms: Anterior View
Figure 1.7a
Regional Terms: Posterior View
Figure 1.7b
HEADS UP
Preparation for Pictionary
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Place the board, envelope, and discard bowl in a
central location so all players have access to
them
Each team should have a playing piece, white
board, markers, and paper towels
Place playing pieces in the start square on the
board
Each team selects a picturist, one who will
sketch clues for the first word
The first word sketched is an ALL PLAY
THE PLAY
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The starting picturist selects a word card from the deck
The picturist has 5 seconds
The timer is then turned and the picturist begins
sketching clues for the team
The picturist may not use verbal or physical
communication to teammates during the round
Sketches may not include letters or numbers
Sketching and guessing continues until the word is
identified or until time is up
If a guess is correct, the team continues to play by
rolling the die, advancing the number of squares,
selecting a new card and new picturist
If a word is not identified within the time limit, play
continues to the left (pull a new card, do not roll)
THE PLAY continued
All Play
 The card is shown to the picturist of each team
 The word is sketched simultaneously by picturists to
their respective teams
 The first team to identify the word earns control of the
die, rolls the die, and continues with a turn
 If no team identifies the word, play continues to the left
To Win
 The first team to land on the Finish square and guess
the word correctly wins the game
Body Sections
Sagittal – divides the body into right and left parts
Midsagittal or median- sagittal plane
that lies on the midline
Body Sections
Frontal/Coronal Section – Lengthwise plane that divides the body
(or organ) into anterior and posterior
Body Sections
Transverse/Cross Section – Cut along a horizontal plane
dividing the body or organ into superior and inferior parts.
Body Planes
Figure 1.8
Body Cavities
The Dorsal cavity protects the
nervous system, and is divided
into two subdivisions:
◦ Cranial cavity is within
the skull and encases the
brain
◦ Vertebral cavity runs
within the vertebral
column and encases the
spinal cord
Body Cavities
Ventral cavity houses the internal organs and is divided into
two subdivisions:
1. Thoracic
2. Abdominopelvic
*The organs within these
cavities are called viscera
Body Cavities
The Thoracic cavity is subdivided into :
Pleural cavities – each houses a lung
Mediastinum – region
between the lungs;
contains the esophagus,
trachea and thymus gland
Pericardial cavity –
encloses the heart
Body Cavities
The abdominopelvic cavity is separated from the
superior thoracic cavity by the dome-shaped diaphragm
Two subdivisions:
◦ Abdominal cavity – contains the
stomach, intestines, spleen, liver,
gallbladder, and kidneys
◦ Pelvic cavity – lies within the pelvis
and contains the end of the large
intestine, bladder, and internal
reproductive organs
Body Cavities
Dorsal Body Cavity
1. _______Cavity
2. Vertebral Cavity
Ventral Body Cavity
1. Thoracic Cavity
A. ________Cavity
B. Pericardial Cavity
C. Mediastinum
2. Abdominopelvic Cavity
A. Abdominal
B. _____
Dorsal Body Cavity
1. Cranial Cavity
2. Vertebral Cavity
Ventral Body Cavity
1. Thoracic Cavity
A. Pleural Cavity
B. Pericardial Cavity
C. Mediastinum
2. Abdominopelvic Cavity
A. Abdominal
B. Pelvic
FYI: Other Cavities
Oral – contains
teeth and tongue
 Nasal – within the
nose, contains
sinuses
 Orbital – contains
the eyes
 Middle ear –
contains the middle
ear bones
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Thoracic and Abdominopelvic
Membranes
Thin serous membranes line the walls of
the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities
and fold back to cover the organs
 These membranes secrete a slippery
serous fluid that separates the layer lining
the wall of the cavity (parietal layer) from
the layer covering the organ (visceral
layer)
 Example – The visceral pericardium
covers the heart surface
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Thoracic and Abdominopelvic Cavity
Membranes
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Parietal serosa membrane: lines internal body
walls
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Visceral serosa membrane: covers the internal
organs
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Serous fluid separates the serosae
Ventral Body Cavity Membranes
Figure 1.10a
Abdominopelvic Quadrants
Right upper
 Left upper
 Right lower
 Left lower
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Figure 1.12
Abdominopelvic Regions
Umbilical
 Epigastric
 Hypogastric
 Right and left iliac
or inguinal
 Right and left
lumbar
 Right and left
hypochondriac
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Figure 1.11a
Organs of the Abdominopelvic Regions
Figure 1.11b
X-ray Technology
Uses electromagnetic radiation to make
images
 Used to look for broken bones, problems
in your lungs and abdomen, cavities in
your teeth, tumors, etc.
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MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Imaging test that uses powerful magnets
and radio waves to create pictures of the
body
 The area of the body being studied is
placed inside a special machine that
contains a strong magnet
 It is used to find problems such as
tumors, bleeding, injury, blood vessel
diseases or infection
 Usually takes 30-60 minutes
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CT – Computed tomography
Scan uses x-rays to make detailed pictures
of structures inside of the body
 Each rotation of the scanner provides a
picture of a thin slice of the organ or area
 Can be used to study all parts of your
body
 May be used to make sure a procedure is
done correctly
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Ultrasound
Uses high-frequency sound waves to look
at organs and structures inside the body
 Used to view the heart, blood vessels,
kidneys, liver, and other organs
 During pregnancy, doctors use ultrasound
tests to examine the fetus
 Uses a device called a transducer over
part of the body; sends out sound waves,
which bounces off the tissues inside your
body; images are created from the waves
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