Mapping the Body

When an organism is in its standard anatomical position, positional descriptive terms are used to indicate regions and features.

Positional terms give precise descriptions of anatomical relationships and allow for consistency when referencing anatomical positions.

Regional directional terms include anterior and posterior, dorsal and ventral, and lateral and medial.

There are three basic reference planes used in anatomy: the sagittal plane, the coronal plane, and the transverse plane.

Vertebrates have fluid-filled spaces called body cavities that contain the organs.

The abdomen is subdivided into four quadrants and nine areas.