Download Anatomical Directional Terms

Anatomical Directional Terms
• Anterior (ventral): In front of, toward the
front, toward the belly
• Posterior (dorsal): Behind, toward the back
• Distal: Away from,
farther from the origin
(either the trunk of
the body or a
specified location)
• Proximal: Near, closer
to the origin
• Superior: Above
another part of the
body
• Inferior: Below
another part of the
body
• Lateral: Toward the
side, away from the
mid-line
• Medial: Toward the
mid-line (middle) away
from the side
• Superficial: near the
surface (also,
peripheral)
• Deep: more internal
parts
• Bilateral: paired organs, one on each side of
the midline
• Ipsilateral: structure on the same side of the
midline
• Contralateral: unpaired structure on the
opposite side of the midline
Planes
• Lateral Plane / Sagittal Plane: divides the body into
right and left regions.
– Median or Midsagittal Plane: Sagittal plane that divides the
body into equal right and left regions.
– Parasagittal Plane: Sagittal plane that divides the body into
unequal right and left regions.
• Frontal Plane / Coronal Plane: divides the body into
front (anterior) and back (posterior) regions.
• Transverse/Axial Plane: divides the body into upper
(superior) and lower (inferior) regions.
Anatomical Terms Practice