Directional Terms Flashcards
dorsal plane
divides the body into top and bottom parts
transverse plane
divides the body into cranial and caudal parts
median plane
divides the body into equal left and right halves; viewed from the animal’s prospective
sagittal plane
divides the body into left and right parts that are not necessarily equal; viewed from the animal’s perspective
left and right
refers to the animal’s point of view
cranial
toward the head end
caudal
toward the tail end
rostral
toward the tip of the nose
dorsal
toward the spine
ventral
toward the belly
medial
toward the inside of the body
lateral
toward the outside of the body
deep
toward the center of the body or body part
superficial
toward the surface of the body or body part
proximal
toward the center of the body on the appendage
distal
away from the center of the body on an appendage
palmar
the bottom or back surface surface of the front limb below the carpus
plantar
the bottom or back surface of the hind below the tarsus
cranial surface
describes the front surface of the leg proximal to the carpus and tarsus
caudal surface
describes the back surface of the leg proximal to the carpus or tarsus
dorsal recumbency
lying on the back (dorsal) with the ventral surface facing up
lateral recumbency
lying down on either their left or right side
sternal recumbency
lying on their sternum/ventral body surface, with dorsal surface facing up
oblique recumbency
can be a combination of a few positions; the body is tilted between dorsal, lateral, or sternal recumbency
