Which of the following correctly describes the anatomical regions of the thorax and abdomen?

• A. The abdomen is located lateral to the thorax and contains the brain and spinal cord.
• B. The thorax is located superior to the abdomen and contains the heart and lungs.
• C. The thorax is located inferior to the abdomen and contains the digestive organs.
• D. The abdomen is located superior to the thorax and contains the heart and lungs.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Begin by understanding the anatomical terms used in the problem. 'Thorax' refers to the chest region, which houses organs such as the heart and lungs. 'Abdomen' refers to the area below the thorax, which contains digestive organs like the stomach and intestines.
2. Step 2: Recall the directional terms in anatomy. 'Superior' means above, 'inferior' means below, and 'lateral' means to the side. These terms help describe the relative positions of body regions.
3. Step 3: Analyze the options provided in the problem. Evaluate each statement based on anatomical knowledge. For example, the thorax cannot be inferior to the abdomen because the chest is above the abdominal region.
4. Step 4: Focus on the correct anatomical relationship. The thorax is superior to the abdomen, and it contains the heart and lungs. The abdomen is inferior to the thorax and contains digestive organs.
5. Step 5: Eliminate incorrect options based on the anatomical relationships and organ locations. The correct description is: 'The thorax is located superior to the abdomen and contains the heart and lungs.'