Medical Terminology Simplified

2–36 Examine Figure 2–2 and list the three major planes of the body.

____________________ (____________________)

____________________ (____________________)

____________________ (____________________)

When in doubt about the meaning of a word element, refer to Appendix A, page 548.

2–37 The median (midsagittal) plane lies exactly in the middle of the body and

divides the body into two equal halves. (See Fig. 2–2.)

When the chest is divided into equal right and left sides, it is divided by the median

plane, also known as the ____________________ __________.

Boldfaceindicates a word root or combining form. Blueindicates a suffix. Pinkindicates a prefix.

42 CHAPTER 2• Body Structure

(1) Cranial

(2) Spinal

Dorsal

(4) Thoracic

(6) Abdominal

(7) Pelvic

Ventral

(3) Diaphragm

(5) Abdomino-

pelvic

Figure 2-3 Body cavities, with

the ventral (anterior) cavities

located in the front of the body

and the dorsal (posterior) cavities

located in the back of the body.

median (midsagittal)

mĭd-SĂJ-ĭ-tăl

frontal (coronal)

kŏ-rō-năl

horizontal (transverse)

trăns-VĔRS

!

midsagittal plane

mĭd-SĂJ-ĭ-tăl