University of San Jose - Recoletos

College of Arts and Sciences

ACTIVITY NO. 1
HUMAN BODY ORIENTATION
INTRODUCTION

Anatomical terminologies are widely used in science specifically in the medical field. These terminologies are
universally accepted terms and function as a tool to easily identify and locate the body structures. This will
prevent misunderstanding among students and professionals in studying the body structures of any living
organisms including human.

OBJECTIVES

1. Identify human body regions, planes, and sections, and specify locations of parts guided by the language
of anatomy
2. Validate and apply the body parts identified using charts and illustrations

MATERIALS
Human body model

PROCEDURE
1. Label the diagram based on the descriptive terms pertaining to the language of anatomy. Refer to your
human anatomy textbook for the detailed description of the following terms.

A. Anatomical Position
- It is the fixed imaginary position to which description of any part of the body is referred to. This
position provides a precise and standard frame of reference for anatomical description and
dissection.
o Body – erect in the standing position with the feet flat on the floor, the face and eyes facing
forward
o Upper extremities – arms at the sides of the body, the palms are facing forward (supine
position), the thumb – directed away from the median plane.

B. Anatomical Planes and Sections

- Plane refers to the imaginary surface passing through body
- Section refers to the actual cut or slice of body structure relative body position

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University of San Jose - Recoletos
College of Arts and Sciences

o A sagittal plane a vertical line that divides it into right and left portions. The sagittal plane
that divides the body or organ into equal haves is also called the median (midsagittal)
plane. Sagittal cuts that are not along the midline are called parasagittal sections.

o A frontal (coronal) plane also extends vertically, but it is perpendicular to the sagittal plane
and divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

o A transverse (horizontal) plane passes across the body or an organ perpendicular to its long
axis; therefore, it divides the body or organ into superior (upper) and inferior (lower)
portions.

C. Directional Terms
- Directional terms are used to describe the location of one body part in relation to another
o Anterior (ventral) means that a body part is located toward the front.
o Posterior (dorsal) means that a body part is located toward the back.
o Superior means that a body part is located above another part, or toward the head.
o Inferior means that a body part is below another part, or toward the feet.
o Medial means that a body part is nearer than another part to an imaginary midline of the
body.
o Lateral means that a body part is farther away from the midline.
o Proximal means that a body part is closer to the point of attachment or closer to the trunk.
o Distal means that a body part is farther from the point of attachment or farther from the
trunk or torso.
o Superficial (external) means that a body part is located near the surface.
o Deep (internal) means that the body part is located away from the surface.
o Central means that a body part is situated at the center of the body or an organ.
o Peripheral means that a body part is situated away from the center of the body or an organ.

D. Surface Anatomy
- This dives the body into two major regions to be able to determine the regions to which the
specific organs of the body are located.
o Axial Region – consist of the head, neck (cervical region), and trunk. The trunk is further
divided into the thoracic region above the diaphragm and the abdominal region below it.

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College of Arts and Sciences

- The abdominopelvic cavity is divided into four quadrants

o (1) right upper quadrant, (2) left upper quadrant, (3) right lower quadrant, and (4) left lower
quadrant.

o The abdomen also can be divided into nine regions defined by four intersecting lines. Each
vertical line is called a midclavicular line because it passes through the midpoint of the
clavicle (collarbone). The superior horizontal line is called the subcostal line because it
connects the inferior borders of the lowest costal cartilages (cartilage connecting the tenth
rib on each side to the inferior end of the sternum). The inferior horizontal line is called the
intertubercular line because it passes from left to right between the tubercles (anterior
superior spines) of the pelvis. The three lateral regions of this grid, from upper to lower, are
the hypochondriac, lateral (lumbar), and inguinal (iliac) regions. The three medial regions
from upper to lower are the epigastric, umbilical, and hypogastric (pubic) regions.

- The appendicular region of the body consists of the appendages (also called limbs or extremities):
the upper limbs and the lower limbs. The upper limb includes the arm, forearm, wrist, hand and
fingers. The lower limb includes the thigh, leg, ankle, foot, and toes.

E. Regions of the Body (terms)

Terms (Ventral) Terms (Dorsal)
Cephalic – Cranial (head) Abdominal (belly) Occipital (back of head)
Frontal (Forehead) Inguinal (groin) Nuchal (neck)
Facial (face) Coxal (hip) Scapular (shoulder blade)
Orbital (eye) Genital (reproductive organ) Vertebral (backbone)
Oral (Mouth) Femoral (thigh) Lumbar (love handles)
Buccal (Mouth – Cheek) Genicular - Patellar (knee) Sacral (between hips)
Mental (Chin) Crural (leg) Brachial (arm)
Cervical (neck) Pedal (foot) Olecranon (elbow)
Deltoid (shoulder) digital (toes) Antebrachial (forearm)
Axillary (armpit) Gluteal (buttocks)
Pectoral (chest) Femoral (thigh)
Sternal (center of chest) Popliteal (back of knee)
Brachial (arm) Sural (calf)
Antecubital (front of elbow) Calcaneal (heel)
Antebrachial (forearm) Plantar (sole of foot)
Carpal (wrist)
Palmar (palm)
Manus (hand)
Digital (fingers)

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University of San Jose - Recoletos
College of Arts and Sciences

F. Body Cavities and Membranes

- Body cavities refer to a space where the organs are placed or lodge. A membrane refers to a thin
sheet or layer of pliable tissue, serving as a covering or envelope, the lining of a cavity, a partition
or septum, or a connection between two structures.
- The body is internally divided into two major body cavities, dorsal and ventral. The organs within
them are called the viscera. Various membranes line the cavities, cover the viscera, and hold the
viscera in place.

- Posterior Body Cavity

o Cranial cavity – space for the brain and is protected by the cranium of the skull.
o Vertebral cavity – space for the spinal cord and is protected by the vertebral column

- Anterior Body Cavity

o Thoracic cavity
▪ It is divided into left and right by a partition called mediastinum
▪ Pleural cavity – space for the lungs
▪ Pericardial cavity space for the heart

o Abdominopelvic Cavity
▪ Abdominal Cavity – located above the brim of the pelvic. It contains most of the
digestive organs including the kidney and ureter.
▪ Pelvic Cavity – located below the brim of the pelvic. It contains distal part of the
large intestine, the urinary bladder and urethra, and the reproductive organs.

Lab Sci 2 |Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory 4

University of San Jose - Recoletos
College of Arts and Sciences

LABORATORY WORKSHEET TOTAL

SCORE:

ACTIVITY NO. 1
108
HUMAN BODY ORIENTATION

Name: _______________________________________________ Date: ____________________

Instructions: Study an illustration or a chart of a human body and be able to identify/label the following
according to: (76 points)
A. Anatomical Position. Label the major visible parts of a human body in an erect position. (4 points)

B. Body Sections and Planes. To observe the relative positions of internal structures, it is necessary to view
them in sections that have been cut throughout the body. Identify and label the sections. (3 points)

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University of San Jose - Recoletos
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C. Directional Terms. Identify and label the anatomical directions guided by the arrows provided in the
drawing. (10 points)

D. Body Regional Terms. Identify and label the different regions of the body. (35 points)

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University of San Jose - Recoletos
College of Arts and Sciences

E. Body Quadrants. Identify and label the different body quadrants. (13 points)

F. Body Cavities. Identify and label the different body cavities in the diagram. (11 points)

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University of San Jose - Recoletos
College of Arts and Sciences

POST LABORATORY QUESTIONS

ACTIVITY NO. 1
HUMAN BODY ORIENTATION

1. Why is the anatomical position of the body important in studying anatomy? (5 points)

2. What are the nine (9) regions of the abdomen? Briefly describe each region and mention at least one
internal organ present. (27 points)

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