Directional Terms Flashcards
Ventral
Toward the belly
Dorsal
Toward the back
Medial
Toward the body midline/center
Lateral
On the side
Proximal
Toward an origin or closest to body midline
Distal
Farther away from an origin or farther from the body midline
Superficial
Toward the surface
Deep
Away from the surface
Cranial
Toward the head
Caudal
Toward the tail
Palmar
Surface contact area of forepaw
Plantar
Surface contact area of hindpaw
Abduction
Movement of part away from median plane
Adduction
Movement toward the median plane
Rotation
Movement of part around axis
Supination
Lateral rotation, palmar or plantar surface of paw faces medially
Pronation
Medial rotation, palmar or plantar surface of paw faces laterally
Frontal plane
Runs horizontal, divides specimen into dorsal and ventral
Transverse plane
Runs through midsection, divides into cranial and caudal
Sagittal plane (lateral plane)
Divides specimen into right and left sides
Median plane
Divides into equal right and left sides
Rostral
Toward or relatively near the nose: applies to head only
Radial
On that side of the forearm that the radius is located
Ulnar
On that side of the forearm that the ulna is located
Tibial
Leg, medial
Fibular
Leg, lateral
Axial
Surface of the digit faces the axis
Abaxial
Faces away from the axis
