Download Dissection Terminology

Dissection Terminology
Zoology
2016-2017`
Mrs. Wyatt
Anterior – means in front of
 Pertaining to the front
or head end;
 Aka – cephalic or
cranial
Posterior
 Pertaining to the tail or
 hind end
Dorsal
 Referring to the back or uppermost side
Ventral
 Referring to the
belly side of the
body
Lateral
 Pertaining to the side of the body; situated to either side of
the midline
Medial
 At or near the middle or midline of a body or organ, in
contrast to lateral
Cephalic (cranial)
 Pertaining to the head end – the opposite of caudal
Caudal
 Pertaining to
the tail end
Proximal
 Toward or near
the point of
attachment –
the opposite of
distal
Distal
 Away from the
base or point of
attachment –
opposite of
Proximal
Longitudinal
 Pertaining to the
long axis of the
body ;
lengthwise
Peripheral
 Refers to parts away
from the center or
external to
Superficial
 On or near the
surface
Oral
 Pertaining to the mouth or the region around the mouth
Aboral
 Pertaining to a region away from or most distant from the
mouth
Planes / Sections
 Longitudinal Plane – Pertaining to the long
axis of the body; lengthwise
Frontal plane
 Sagital Section – Longitudinal section through
the median vertical plane that bisects the body
into right and left halves; or any section parallel
to it.
 Frontal Section / Coronal Section –
Longitudinal section made at right angles to a
sagital section. It is parallel to the dorsal and
ventral surfaces.
 Median Plane – extends from the dorsal to the
ventral surface & passes from the anterior end to
the posterior end through the middle of the body
– produces the saggital section.
 Transverse Plane – Any section made
through and at right angles to the longitudinal
axis
Planes / Sections
 Parasagittal Section
– Section to one side
of the midline,
separating right and
left portions of
unequal size
Anatomical Directions & Axes
Anatomical Directions & Axes
Anatomical Directions & Axes
Directional Terminology
Vertebrate zootomy
Direction
Synonyms
Rostral, Cranial,
Anterior
Cephalic1
Posterior
Caudal
Dorsal
Back
Ventral
Belly
Away from the
lateral
middle
Left (lateral)
Sinister1
Right (lateral)
Dexter1
Medial
Middle
Human torso
Direction
Synonyms
Human head
Direction
Synonyms
Superior
Same1, Up
Anterior
Front
Inferior
Posterior
Anterior
Caudal1, Down
Dorsal, Back
Ventral, Front
Posterior
Superior
Inferior
Back
Dorsal, Up
Ventral, Down
Same
—
Same
—
Same
Same
Same
—
—
—
Same
Same
Same
—
—
—
Proximal
Away from extremity Same
—
Same
—
Distal
Towards extremity
Same
—
Same
—
Intermediate2
Ipsilateral2
Contralateral2
Superficial2
Deep2
—
Same side
Opposite side
—
—
Same
Same
Same
Same
Same
—
—
—
—
—
Same
Same
Same
Same
Same
—
—
—
—
—
Body Symmetry of Animals
Asymmetry
cannot be divided into mirror images
Biradial symmetry
 Essentially radial, but only
two planes through the
longitudinal axis create
truly similar halves
Radial Symmetry:
can be cut in half along many planes that
allow for nearly identical halves
Bilateral Symmetry:
a single plane divides body into two
mirror images
What type of symmetry do each of the
following exhibit?
1.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
10.