Body Planes & Directional Terms Flashcards
Sagittal
Body Plane
Dividing the body into the right and left
Doesn’t need to be equal
Midsagittal
Body Plane
In the middle. Equal right and left.
Transverse Plane
Body Plane
Passes horizontally dividing into superior/inferior
Superior
Upper most. Above. The highest of the two parts.
Nose superior to mouth
Inferior
Lower most. Below. The lower of two parts
Heart inferior to neck
Dorsal
Toward the back
Spine on dorsal side of body
Ventral
Toward the belly
Face is ventral side of body
Anterior
Toward the front
Heart is anterior to spine
Posterior
Situated behind. Toward the back of…
Ear is posterior to nose
Median/medial
Middle or midline of structure (toward midline)
Nose is medial to ears
Lateral
Toward the side
Ears are lateral to eyes
External
On the outside
Internal
On the inside
Horizontal
Parallel to the horizon
Vertical
Straight up and down
Perpendicular
Straight up and down at right angle to horizon
Parallel
Having the same direction, side by side/ equal-distant
Oblique
Slanting, not parallel
Periphery
Outward part, surface or border.
Cranial
Toward the head
Proximal
Nearer to point of attachment or given point of reference.
Elbow is proximal to wrist
Distal
Further from point of attachment or point of reference.
Fingers are distal to wrist
Mesial
Closest to the point of attachment or point of reference.
