Body Direction and Planes

Superior

Means above.

Inferior

Means below.

Anterior

Means front.

Posterior

Means back.

Medial

Towards the midline (Plane splits into left and right halves)

Lateral

Away from the midline (Plane splits into left and right halves)

Cephalad

Means toward the head.

Caudad

Means toward the tail.

Dorsal

Means backside.

Ventral

Means belly side.

Proximal

Means nearer the trunk or attached end.

Distal

Means farther from the trunk or point of attachment.

Superficial

Means toward or at the body surface.

Deep

Means away from the body surface or more internal.

Frontal plane

Divides into anterior and posterior portions

Tranverse plane

Divides into superior and inferior portions

Sagittal plane

Divides into left and right portions

Plantar surface

Bottom part of the foot.

Dorsal cavity

Backside cavity. Contains cranial and spinal cavity

Cranial cavity

Part of dorsal cavity. Contains the brains + associated structures.

Spinal cavity

Part of dorsal cavity. Contains vertebral column.

Ventral cavity

Frontside cavity. Contains thoracic cavity, pericardial, and abdominopelvic cavity.

Thoracic cavity

Part of ventral cavity. Contains the lungs and major blood vessels.

Pericardial cavity

Part of the ventral cavity. Encloses the heart.

Abdominal cavity

Part of abdominopelvic + ventral cavity. Contains the stomach, liver, spleen, and intestines.

Pelvic cavity

Part of abdominopelvic + ventral cavity. Contains reproductive organs. urinary bladder, and rectum.