foundational terminology Flashcards
Sagittal plane
Passes longitudinally through the head, body or limb, dividing the structure into left and right.
Mid-sagittal / median plane
Equal right and left halves.
Para-sagittal
Unequal left and right (parallel to the mid-sagittal/ median plane)
Transverse plane:
Cuts across the head, body or limb at a right angle to its long axis or across the long axis of an organ or a part.
Dorsal (frontal) plane:
Runs at right angles to the median and transverse planes and thus divides the body or head into dorsal and ventral portions
Medial
Toward or relatively near the median plane.
Lateral
Away from or relatively farther from the median plane.
Proximal/ distal
Regarding an appendage - Towards or nearer/ away from or farther from, the body.
Cranial
Toward or relatively near the head; on the limbs it applies proximal to the carpus and tarsus. In reference to the head, it is replaced by the term rostral.
Rostral
Toward or relatively near the nose; applies to the head only.
Caudal
Toward or relatively near the tail; on the limbs it applies proximal to the carpus and tarsus. Also used in reference to the head.
Axial
the vertical plane of which often follows the bone structure
or
towards the axis of the structure
Abaxial
is facing away from the axis or central line
Superficial
close to the surface
Deep
far from the surface
