Body Planes and Posititons

coronal (frontal)

divides the body into anterior and posterior

transverse (horizontal)

divides body into top and bottom sections

midsagittal (median)

runs through the center if the body dividing the body into right and left halves

anterior

ventra/front of the body

aoex

top

base

bottom

deep

away from the surface of the body

distal

furthest away from the center of the body

dorsal

posterior, back of the body

inferior

caudal. Away from head, toward tail, or lower part of structure

lateral

pertaining to side

medial

pertaining to the midline of the body/structure

prone

lying abdomen, face down

posterior

dorsal, back of the body

proximal

nearer to the center (trunk if the body)

superficial

toward the surface of the body (external)

supine

lying horizontally, on the back, face up

ventral

anterior, front of the body

visceral

pertaining to the viscera/internal organs, especially abdominal organs

superior

cephalad. toward the heard or upper portion of a structure