Positional Terms Flashcards
Dorsal
Refers to the back
Ventral
Refers to the belly or underside of a body or body part
Cranial
Toward the head
Caudal
Toward the tail
Anterior
Front of the body
Posterior
Rear of the body
Rostral
Nose end of the head
Cephalic
Pertaining to the head
Caudal
Toward the tail
Medial
Toward the midline
Lateral
Away from the midline, side
Superior
Uppermost, above, or toward the head
Inferior
Lowermost, below, or toward the tail
Proximal
Nearest the midline or nearest to the beginning of a structure
Distal
Farthest from the midline or farthest from the beginning of a structure
Superficial
Near the surface, external
Deep
Away from or beneath the surface, internal
Palmar
Caudal surface of the manus (front paw) including the carpus
Plantar
Caudal surface of the pes (rear paw) including the tarsus
The plane that divides the body into equal right and left halves. Also called the median plane and the midline.
Midsagittal plane
The plane that divides the body into unequal right and left parts.
Sagittal plane
The plane that divides the body into dorsal and ventral body parts. Also called the frontal or coronal plane.
Dorsal plane
The plane that divides the body into cranial and caudal parts. Also called the horizontal or cross-sectional plane.
Transverse plane