This document provides an introduction to basic human anatomy and anatomical terminology. It discusses anatomical positions like supine and prone. It defines various directional terms in relation to the body's midline, extremities, and internal/external surfaces. It also covers terms of movement. The document outlines the main body regions of axial and appendicular. It describes the three main body cavities - thoracic, abdominal and pelvic. It explains the serous membranes that line the cavities, including pericardium, pleura and peritoneum.

1. Introduction to Basic Human
Anatomy
Anatomical terms abd body
cavities
Dr. Mohammed Mahmoud Mosaed

2. Anatomical Terminology
• The supine position of the body is lying on the
back.
• The prone position is lying face downward.

3. Directional Terms of the Body
• Directional terms are precise and
brief, and for most of them there is a
correlative term that means just the
opposite.

4. Relative and Directional Terms
of the Body
• Relative to front (belly side) or
back (back side) of the body :
–Anterior (Ventral)=
In front of; toward the
front surface
–Posterior (Dorsal) =
In back of; toward the
back surface

5. Relative and Directional Terms
of the Body
• Relative to the head or
tail of the body:
– Superior = Toward the
head or above
– Inferior = Toward feet not
head
– Caudal = At the rear or tail
end
– Cranial = At the head end

6. Relative and Directional Terms
of the Body
• Relative to the midline or center
of the body:
– Medial = Toward the midline
of the body
– Lateral = Away from the
midline of the body
– Deep = On the inside,
underneath another structure
– Superficial = On the outside

7. Relative and Directional Terms
of the Body
• Relative to point of
attachment of the
appendage:
– Proximal = Closest to point
of attachment to trunk
– Distal = Furthest from point
of attachment to trunk
1-7

8. Relative and Directional Terms
of the Body
• Internal
• External
• Ipsilateral: on the
same side
• Contralateral: on
the opposite side
8

9. Terms of Movement
• Flexion
• Extension
• Abduction
• Adduction
• Rotation:
• Medial rotation
• Lateral rotation
• Pronation
• Supination
• Circumduction
• Protraction
• Retraction
• Inversion
• Eversion
9

10. 10

11. Body Regions
• The human body is
partitioned into two main
regions, called the axial
and appendicular regions.
– the axial region includes
the head, neck, and trunk
which comprise the main
vertical axis of our body
– our limbs, or appendages,
attach to the body’s axis
and make up the
appendicular region

12. Body Cavities
and Membranes
• The posterior aspect of the
body has two enclosed cavities
– A cranial cavity is formed by the
cranium and houses the brain.
– A vertebral canal is formed by the
individual bones of the vertebral
column and contains the spinal
cord.
 The anterior aspect of the body
has 3 enclosed cavities
– Thoracic cavity
– Abdominal cavity
– Pelvic cavity

13. 13

14. Body Cavities
• Both the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities are
lined with thin serous membranes, which are
composed of two layers:
– A parietal layer lines the internal surface of the body wall.
– A visceral layer covers the external surface of organs
(viscera) within the cavity.
– Between the parietal and visceral layers of the serous
membrane is a thin serous cavity, containing a
lubricating film of serous fluid.
 The serous fluid reduces friction and helps the organs
move smoothly against both one another and the body
wall.

15. Body Cavities and Membranes
• The median space
in the thoracic
cavity is called the
mediastinum.
• It contains the
heart, thymus,
esophagus,
trachea, and major
blood vessels that
connect to the
heart.
1-15

16. Body Cavities and Membranes
– Within the mediastinum, the heart is enclosed by
a two-layered serous membrane called the
pericardium. 1-16

17. The Thoracic Cavity
• The right and left sides of the thoracic
cavity contain the lungs; they are lined by
a two-layered serous membrane called
the pleura.
– The outer layer is the parietal pleura; it lines the
internal surface of the thoracic wall
– The inner layer is the visceral pleura; it covers the
external surface of the lung
– The narrow, moist, potential space between them is
called the pleural cavity
1-17

18. 18

19. Abdominopelvic Cavity
• The abdominopelvic cavity
consists of an abdominal
cavity and a pelvic cavity.
• The peritoneum is a moist,
two-layered serous
membrane that lines the
abdominopelvic cavity.