Anatomical Position, Body Planes, Directional Terms
Superior
A body part is above another part, or is closer to the head (closer to head)
Inferior
A body part is below another body part, is toward the feet (toward the feet)
Distal
Away from the origin or trunk (away from trunk)
Medial
Closer to midline
Coronal Plane
Divides body into front and back portions Divides:Front/Ventral/Anterior Back/Posterior/Dorsal
Sagittal Plane
Divides body into left and right portions (divides:left/right) Sagittal
Transervse Plane
Divides body into top and bottom portions (superior-head; inferior-feat) (divides:upper/lower) cross-sectional, horizontal plane
Parasagittal Plane (Para=near)
Divides into unequal left or right (unequal: left or right)
Deep
Inward from body surface; toward core (internal)
Oblique Plane
Passes through the body at an angle (angle)
Contralateral
Structures on the opposite side (opposite side)
Ipsilateral
Structures on the same side (same side)
Anatomical Position
The body is standing straight, facing forward, upper limbs at side and palms facing forward. (body:straight:face/palm forward)
Posterior (Dorsal)
Toward the back; opposite of Anterior (back)
Proximal
Towards origin or tank (toward the trunk)
Anterior (Ventral)
Towards the Front. [The eyes are _______ to the brain]. (front)
Superficial
closer to the surface of the body (surface-skin)
Midsagittal Plane
divides into equal right and left sides (middle)
Lateral
farther from midline of body