Anatomical Directional Terms and Body Planes for Biology Students

Superior

Toward the head or upper part of the body; above another structure

Inferior

Toward the lower part of the body; below another structure

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment or origin of a limb

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment or origin of a limb

Anterior

Toward the front of the body

Posterior

Toward the back of the body

Medial

Toward the midline of the body

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body

Deep

Farther inside the body; away from the surface

Ipsilateral

On the same side of the body

Contralateral

On the opposite side of the body

Superficial

Close to or at the surface of the body

Sagittal plane

Divides the body into left and right parts

Frontal plane

Divides the body into front and back parts

Transverse plane

Divides the body into upper and lower parts