Directional Planes

Question 1

Sagittal Plane

Answer 1

Runs vertically front to back and divides the body into right and left sections.

Question 2

Transverse Plane

Answer 2

Runs horizontally and it divides the body into upper and lower sections.

Question 3

Coronal Plane

Answer 3

Runs vertically side to side and it divides the body into front and back sections
(Also known as the frontal plane)

Question 4

Standard Anatomical Position

Answer 4

-standing upright.
-head and eyes directed straight ahead.
-upper limbs at the sides.
-upper limbs slightly away from the trunk.
-palms facing forward.
-thumbs pointing away from the body.
-lower limbs parallel.
-feet flat on the ground and facing forward.
-right and left refer to the patient’s right and left sides. Not your right and left when looking at the patient.

Question 5

Midline

Answer 5

Imaginary vertical line down middle of body.
Dividing the body into left and right sides.
(Sagittal plane)

Question 6

Medial

Answer 6

Toward the midline or middle of the body

Question 7

Lateral

Answer 7

Toward the side of the body.
(Think of lateral = lats -side back muscles)

Question 8

Superior

Answer 8

Above, toward the head
(Superior is also referred to as cranial)

Question 9

Inferior

Answer 9

Below away from the head
(Inferior is also referred to as caudal)

Question 10

Anterior

Answer 10

Front; towards the front of the body.
(Anterior is also referred to as ventral)

Question 11

Posterior

Answer 11

Back/rear; towards the back of the body.
(aka dorsal)

Question 12

Ventri

Answer 12

Stomach, abdomen, or front of the body

Question 13

Proximal

Answer 13

Toward the trunk
or
Toward the midpoint; near the origin
(Proximal = proximity)

Question 14

Distal

Answer 14

Away from the trunk
or
Away from the midpoint; far from the origin.
(Distal = distant)

Question 15

Superficial

Answer 15

Closer to the surface of the body.
(Superficial = surface)

Question 16

Deep

Answer 16

Away from the body
or
Farther from the surface

Question 17

Unilateral

Answer 17

Involving one side of the body.
(Unilateral = uni = one)

Question 18

Bilateral

Answer 18

Involving both sides of the body
(Bilateral = bi = two)

Question 19

Ipsilateral

Answer 19

On the same side of the body.
(Ipsilateral = ipsi = same)

Question 20

Contralateral

Answer 20

On opposite sides of the body.
(Contralateral = contra = opposite)

Question 21

Caudal

Answer 21

Toward the feet

Question 22

Cephalad

Answer 22

Toward the head

Question 23

Frontal Plane

Answer 23

Divides the body into anterior and posterior sections.
(aka coronal plane)