Body Planes and Anatomical Orientation Flashcards
Anterior/Ventral
Towards the front of the body
Posterior/Dorsal
Towards the back of the body
Superior
Towards the head of the body
Inferior
Towards the feet of the body
Lateral
Away from the midline of the body
Medial
Towards the midline of the body
Proximal
Located closer to the midline of the body/structure
Distal
Located further from the midline of the body/structure
Supine
Laying face up
Prone
Laying face down
Deep
Away from the surface of the body
Superficial
On, or close to the surface of the body
Intermediate
Situated between deep and superficial or medial and lateral structures
Cranial/Cephalic
Towards the head
Caudal
Towards the tail (or feet, in bipeds)
Oblique
Slanting or sloping
Ipsilateral
On the same side
Contralateral
On the opposite side
Bilateral
On both sides
Anatomical Position
Standing upright
Facing forward
Arms at side with palms facing forward and thumbs out laterally
Mid-Saggital/ Median Saggital Plane
Divides the body left and right symmetrical
Frontal/Coronal
Divides the body into anterior and posterior
Horizontal/Transverse
Divides the body into superior and inferior
