How do relational nouns express location in Mesoamerican languages?

In the Mesoamerican linguistic area, relational nouns are a key structural trait used to express location. These locative expressions are composed of a noun root—typically referring to a body part—combined with a possessive pronoun, which is usually attached as a prefix or suffix.1

This construction functions by using a literal body-part reference to describe a spatial relationship. For example, the phrase "my-head" is used to express the concept of "on me." Another illustrative example is found in K’iche’ (a Mayan language), where the expression chi-uu-pam lee kaxa translates literally to "at-its-stomach the box" to mean "in the box".1

This method of expressing location is considered a strong areal trait, as it is shared by essentially all languages within the Mesoamerican linguistic region but is not found in neighboring languages beyond its borders.1