Anatomic Positions and Planes Flashcards
Anterior (ventral)
Toward the front of the body
Toward the front of the body
Anterior (ventral)
Posterior (dorsal)
Toward the back of the body
Toward the back of the body
Posterior (dorsal)
Medial
Toward the midline of the body
Toward the midline of the body
Medial
Lateral
Toward the side of the body
Toward the side of the body
Lateral
Proximal
Nearer to the point of attachment or to a given reference
Nearer to the point of attachment or to a given reference
Proximal
Distal
Farther from the point of attachment or from a given reference point
Farther from the point of attachment or from a given reference point
Distal
Superior (cranial)
Above; toward the head
Above; toward the head
Superior (cranial)
Inferior (caudal)
Below; toward the lower end of the spine
Below; toward the lower end of the spine
Inferior (caudal)
Superficial (external)
Closer to the surface of the body
Closer to the surface of the body
Superficial (external)
Deep (internal)
Closer to the center of the body
Closer to the center of the body
Deep (internal)
Sagittal
Cuts through the midline of the body from the front to back, dividing the body into right and left sections
Cuts through the midline of the body from the front to back, dividing the body into right and left sections
Sagittal
Frontal (coronal)
Cuts at a right angle to the midline, from side to side, dividing the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) sections
Cuts at a right angle to the midline, from side to side, dividing the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) sections
Frontal (coronal)
Transverse (horizontal) (axial)
Cuts horizontally through the body, separating the body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) sections
Cuts horizontally through the body, separating the body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) sections
Transverse (horizontal) (axial)
