Anatomical directions Flashcards
Anterior
In front of or front, toward the nose
Posterior
In behind of or behind, toward the tail
Ventral
Towards the front of the body/belly
Dorsal
Towards the back of the body/back
Distal
Away or farthest away from the chest or the point of origin of the body part
Proximal
Closer or towards the trunk or the point of origin of the body part
Median
Midline of the body
Medial
Towards the median/midline
Lateral
Away from median/midline
Ipsilateral
Structures on the same side of the body
Contralateral
Structures on the opposite side of the body
Superior
Towards the top of the head
Inferior
Towards the feet
External
Towards the surface, superficial
Internal
Away from the surface, deep
Frontal
Towards the front of the brain
Occipital
Towards the back of the brain
Coronal Plane
Vertical plane dividing the body into anterior and posterior
Sagittal Plane
Vertice plane dividing the body into left and right
Transverse Plane
Horizontal plane dividing the body into superior and inferior
Axial Plane
Horizontal plane dividing the brain into superior and inferior
