Anatomical position terminology
transverse
A horizontal plane situated at right angles to the long axis, or sagittal and coronal planes; placed crosswise.
sagittal
Division of body into left and right sides in a vertical lengthwise fashion.
coronal
Division of the body into anterior and posterior sections. Also called frontal plane. Can mean pertaining to the head or the crown.
proximal
Nearest; closer to any point of reference; opposite of distal. (The shoulder is distal to the wrist but proximal to the elbow.)
ventral
Pertaining to the abdomen; used to denote a position that is more toward the belly/abdominal surface than some other object of reference.
dorsal
Pertaining to the back of the body; also used to denote a position that is more toward the back than another object of reference. Sometimes called posterior.
medial
Pertaining to the middle; closer to the midline of a body; pertaining to the middle layer.
lateral
Pertaining to the side; denoting a position farther from the midline (median plane) of a structure.
distal
Remote; farther from any point of reference; opposite of proximal. (The shoulder is distal to the wrist but proximal to the elbow.)
superior
Situated above, or directed upward; in official anatomic nomenclature, used in reference to the upper surface of an organ or other structure, or to a structure occupying a higher position.
inferior
Situated below a structure or directed downward; also used to denote the lower portion of an organ or the lower of two structures. Sometimes called caudal.
anterior
Situated in front of or toward the front of a body part or organ. This term is also used in reference to a ventral or belly surface of the body. Frontal is a common synonym for anterior.
posterior
Situated in the back; also used in reference to the back or dorsal surface of the body.