Definitions: Directional Terms

Question 1

ANATOMICAL PLANES
SAGITTAL PLANE

Answer 1

Passes vertically through the body or an organ and divides it into right and left portions.
The sagittal plane that divides the body or organ into equal halves is also called the median plane.
The head and pelvic organs are commonly illustrated on the median plane.
Other sagittal planes parallel to this (off center) divide the body into unequal portions
Such planes are sometimes called parasagittal planes

Question 2

ANATOMICAL PLANES
FRONTAL PLANE

Answer 2

Coronal plane
Extends vertically, but it is perpendicular to the sagittal plane and divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.
A frontal section of the head, for ex, divides it into one portion bearing the face and another bearing the back of the head
Contents of the thoracic and abdominal cavities are usually shown as frontal sections

Question 3

ANATOMICAL PLANES
TRANSVERSE PLANE

Answer 3

Passes across the body or an organ perpendicular to its long axis: divides the body or organ into superior and inferior portions
CT scans are typically transverse sections

Question 4

VENTRAL VS DORSAL

Answer 4

Ventral: Toward the front or belly
Dorsal: Toward the back or spine

Question 5

ANTERIOR VS POSTERIOR

Answer 5

Toward the ventral side
Toward the dorsal side

Question 6

CEPHALIC VS ROSTRAL VS CAUDAL

Answer 6

Toward the head or superior end
Toward the forehead or nose
Toward the tail or inferior end

Question 7

SUPERIOR VS INFERIOR

Answer 7

Above
Below

Question 8

MEDIAL VS LATERAL

Answer 8

Toward the median plane
Away from the median plane

Question 9

PROXIMAL VS DISTAL

Answer 9

Closer to the point of attachment or origin
Ex. The elbow is proximal to the wrist
Farther from the point of attachement or origin
Ex. The fingernails are at the distal ends of the fingers

Question 10

IPSILATERAL VS CONTRALATERAL

Answer 10

On the same side of the body (right or left)
Ex. The liver is ipsilateral to the appendix.
On opposite sides of the body (right and left)
Ex. The spleen is contralateral to the liver

Question 11

SUPERFICIAL VS DEEP

Answer 11

Closer to the body surface
Ex. The skin in superficial to the muscles
Farther from the body surface
Ex. The bones are deep to the muscles