Positional Terminology and Planes Flashcards
Anterior
Front or toward the front of the body
Ventral
Front or toward the front of the body
Posterior
Back or toward the back of the body
Dorsal
Back or toward the back of the body
Caudal
Near or toward the tail
Prone
Lying on the stomach, face down
Supine
Laying on the back, face up
Lateral
On the side or toward the side of the body
Medial or median
In the middle or toward the middle of the body
Proximal
Nearer to the point of attachment or the trunk of the body
Distal
Farther from the point of attachment or trunk of the body
Superficial
Nearer to the surface of the body
Deep
Farther from the surface of the body
Superior
Above or higher than another part
Inferior
Below or lower than another part
Central
Near the center (median) of the body or middle of an organ
Peripheral
Away from the center (midline) of the body or an organ
Frontal plane
Divides the body or organ into an anterior (front) portion and a posterior (rear) portion.
Saggital plane
Divides the body or organ lengthwise into right and left sections. If the vertical plane runs exactly down the midline or the body it is a midsaggital plane, otherwise it can run down vertically at any point.
Transversal plane
Divides the body into a superior (top) portion and an inferior (bottom) portion. Can go anywhere to create cross sections.
