Medical Terminology Simplified

2–52 The major body cavities of the trunk are the thorac/ic and abdomin/o/

pelv/ic cavities. The (4) thoracic cavitycontains the heart and lungs, and the

(5) abdominopelvic cavity contains the digestive and reproductive organs. The

abdomin/o/pelv/ic cavity contains by far the greatest number of organs of any of

the body cavities and is further subdivided into the (6) abdominal and (7) pelvic

cavities. Locate these cavities in Figure 2–3.

2–53 Review Figure 2–3 to identify the largest cavity in the body that incorporates

the abdomin/o/pelv/ic and thorac/ic cavities: __________ / __________

_______________

2–54 Medical personnel locate a structure of interest by referring to the body cav-

ity in which it can be found.

Use the terms super/ior and infer/ior to describe locations, or positions, of body cavities.

The thoracic cavity is located __________ / __________ to the abdominopelvic

cavity.

The spinal cavity is located __________ / __________ to the cranial cavity.

Abdominopelvic Quadrants and Regions

The abdominopelvic cavity is further divided into quadrants and regions. (See Figs. 2–4A and B.)

Frame 2–44to Frame 2–54

Abdominopelvic Quadrants and Regions • CHAPTER 2 45

ventr/al cavity

VĔN-trăl

super/ior

soo-PĒ-rē-or

infer/ior

ĭn-FĒ-rē-or

Right upper

quadrant

(RUQ)

Right lower

quadrant

(RLQ)

Left upper

quadrant

(LUQ)

Left lower

quadrant

(LLQ)

Right

hypo-

chondriac

Right

lumbar

Right

inguinal

Left

hypo-

chondriac

Left

lumbar

Left

inguinal

Umbilical

Epigastric

Hypo-

gastric

Figure 2-4Abdominopelvic quadrants and regions. (A)Four quadrants of the abdomen.
(B)Nine regions of the abdomen showing superficial organs.

AB