GUIDE FOR SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION Organism

The 10 systems of the body when functioning

together make up the total organism—one living
STRUCTURAL ORGANI ZATION
being.
Several levels of structural organization make up the
BODY CAVITIES
human body.
Anatomical terminology for body cavities: Humans
have multiple body cavities, including the cranial
Chemicals
cavity, the vertebral cavity, the thoracic cavity
The lowest level of organization is the
(containing the pericardial cavity and the pleural
chemical level. All chemicals necessary for
cavity), the abdominal cavity, and the pelvic cavity. In
maintaining life are composed of atoms,
mammals, the diaphragm separates the thoracic
which are joined in various ways to form
cavity from the abdominal cavity.
molecules. Various chemicals in the form of
molecules are organized to form cells.
Dorsal
Cells
The dorsal cavity is a continuous cavity
The cell is the basic structural and functional
located on the dorsal side of the body. It
unit of all living tissue. Every single part of
houses the organs of the upper central
the body, whether muscle, bone, cartilage, fat,
nervous system, including the brain and the
nerve, skin, or blood, is composed of cells.
spinal cord. The meninges is a multi-layered
Tissues
membrane within the dorsal cavity that
Tissues are cohesive groups of similar cells
envelops and protects the brain and spinal
that, together with their intercellular
cord.
material, perform a specific function. The four
Cranial
basic types of tissue are as follows:
The cranial cavity is the anterior portion of
1. Epithelial: Tissues that cover internal
the dorsal cavity consisting of the space
and external surfaces of the body,
inside the skull. This cavity contains the brain,
including the lining of vessels and
the meninges of the brain, and cerebrospinal
organs, such as the stomach and the
fluid.
intestines
Vertebral
2. Connective: Supportive tissues that bind
The vertebral cavity is the posterior portion
together and support various
of the dorsal cavity and contains the
structures
structures within the vertebral column. These
3. Muscular: Tissues that make up the
include the spinal cord, the meninges of the
substance of a muscle
spinal cord, and the fluid-filled spaces
4. Nervous: Tissues that make up the
between them. This is the most narrow of all
substance of nerves and nerve centers
body cavities, sometimes described as
threadlike.
Organs
Ventral
When complex assemblies of tissues are
The ventral cavity, the interior space in the
joined to perform a specific function, the
front of the body, contains many different
result is an organ. Organs usually have a
organ systems. The organs within the ventral
specific shape. Examples of organs of the
cavity are also called viscera. The ventral
human body are the kidneys, heart, liver,
cavity has anterior and posterior portions
lungs, stomach, and brain.
divided by the diaphragm, a sheet of skeletal
System
muscle found beneath the lungs.
A system consists of a group or an association
Thoracic
of organs that have a similar or common
The thoracic cavity is the anterior ventral
function. The urinary system, consisting of
body cavity found within the rib cage in the
the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, is
torso. It houses the primary organs of the
an example of a body system. The total body
cardiovascular and respiratory systems, such
comprises 10 individual body systems.
as the heart and lungs, but also includes
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 organs from other systems, such as the Directional Terms
esophagus and the thymus gland. The Lateral - Away from the midline of the body (On the
thoracic cavity is lined by two types of outer side of) e.g. the arms are lateral to the
mesothelium, a type of membrane tissue that chest.
lines the ventral cavity: the pleura lining of Medial - Near to the midline of the body (On the
the lungs, and the pericadium lining of the Inner side of) e.g. the chest is medial to the
heart. arms
Superior ( cephalic/ cranial) - Towards the head
Abdominopelvic end or towards the upper part of a
The abdominoplevic cavity is the posterior structure (above) e.g. The head is superior
ventral body cavity found beneath the to the chest.
thoracic cavity and diaphragm. It is generally Inferior (Caudal) - Away from the head end or
divided into the abdominal and pelvic towards the lower part of a structure
cavities. The abdominal cavity is not (Below) e.g. the abdomen is inferior to the
contained within bone and houses many chest.
organs of the digestive and renal systems, as Anterior ( ventral ) - Towards or at front of the body
well as some organs of the endocrine system, (in front of) e.g. The sternum is anterior to
such as the adrenal glands. The pelvic cavity the spine.
is contained within the pelvis and houses the Posterior (Dorsal ) - Towards or at the back of the
bladder and reproductive system. The body (Behind) e.g. The heart is posterior to
abdominopelvic cavity is lined by a type of the sternum.
mesothelium called the peritoneum. Proximal - Close to the origin of the body part or the
point of attachment of a limb to the trunk
Anatomic Position e.g. The knee is proximal to the ankle.
A person in the anatomical position is standing erect Distal - Farther or away from the origin of the body
with the head, eyes and toes pointing forward, feet part or the attachment of a limb to the
together with arms by the side. The palms of the trunk e.g. The forearm is distal to the arm.
hands are also point forward. Superficial - Towards or at the body surface e.g. The
skin is superficial to the skeletal muscles
Body Planes Deep - Away from the body surface (more internal)
A plane is a flat surface passed through the body or a e.g. The skeletal muscles are deep to the
portion of the body. skin
Body planes are divided into:
 Longitudinal planes Joints movement Terms
 Coronal Abduction - movement away from the midline of the
 Sagittal body or body part.
 Horizontal plane Adduction - Movement toward the midline of the
 Transverse body or body part.
Flexion - Decrease in the angle of a joint by bending
Sagittal Plane (Median plane) - A vertical plane Extension - Increase in the angle of joint or
running from front to back; divides the straightening of a joint
body or any of its parts into right and left Inversion - Turning of foot inward at the ankle joint.
sides. Eversion - Turning of the foot outward at the ankle
Coronal or (Frontal) - A vertical plane running from joint.
side to side; divides the body or any of its Pronation - Turning the hand so that the palm is
parts into anterior and posterior portions. down or onto one's stomach
Axial Plane (Transverse Plane) - A horizontal Supination - Turning the hand so the palm is facing
plane; divides the body or any of its parts upward or turning onto one's back.
into upper and lower parts.
Oblique Plane - An oblique plane is a longitudinal or Body Position Terms
transverse plane that is at an angle or slant Describe the overall placement of the body in the
and is not parallel to the sagittal, coronal, or desired position.
horizontal plane.

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Erect "upright" - Position when the Sagittal and
coronal planes of the body are
perpendicular to the horizon Topographic Landmarks
Recumbent "lying down" - Position when the A. Cervical Region
transverse plane of the body is perpendicular C1 - level of Mastoid tip
to the horizon C2 - level of Gonion
C3 - level of Hyoid bone
C4/C5 - level of Thyroid cartilage
Fowler's Position - A person in the Fowler's position C7 - level of vertebra prominens
is sitting leaning slightly back 45o -
90o.legs may either be straight or bent. B. Thoracic Region
Trendelenburg Position - A person in the T1 - 2 inches above jugular notch
Trendelenburg position is lying supine T2/T3 - level of jugular notch
with head slightly lower than their feet. T4/T5 - level of sternal angle
Sim's Position - A near lateral Left anterior oblique T7 - level of inferior angle of scapula
(Left Sim's) OR right anterior oblique T9/T10- level of xiphoid tip
with the top leg in front the lower leg.
C. Lumbar Region
L2/L3 - level of inferior coastal margin
L4/L5 - level of iliac crests
Classification of Body Habitus D. Sacrum and Pelvic Region
Hypersthenic S1/S2 - level of ASIS
 Deep broad thorax COCCYX- level of pubic symphysis and greater
 Short thoracic cavity trochanters
 Short wide heart
 Elevated diaphragm
 Stomach and GB very high
 Colon high and wide
Sthenic
 Lightly longer and shallow thorax
 Ribs more vertical
 Heart narrow and longer
 Thoracic cavity longer
 Diaphragm is not as high
 Colon slightly lower and more centrally
located.
Hyposthenic
 Thorax longer
 Diaphragm lower
 Stomach and GB lower and close to midline.
 Colon lower and close to midline of abdomen
Asthenic
 Exaggeration of Hyposthenic type
 Thorax narrow and shallow
 Heart longer and narrow
 Thoracic cavity longer
 Diaphragm is very low
 Stomach and GB very lower, vertical and near
midline.

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