Directional terms & body planes

Anatomical Position

upright standing position with the face directed forward, arms at the sides and palms of the hands facing forward

Supine

lying face upward

Prone

lying face downward

Superior (cephalic)

up or toward the head

Inferior (caudal)

down or away from the head

Proximal

nearest to the attachment

Distal

away from the attachment

Anterior (ventral)

front

Posterior (dorsal)

back

Medial

toward the midline or middle

Lateral

away from the midline or middle

Superficial

refers to a structure that is close to the surface

Deep

refers to a structure that is away from the surface, towards the inside

Midsagittal Plane

passes through the midline of the body dividing it into equal right and left parts

Parasagittal Plane

divides body into unequal right and left parts

Transverse Plane

divides the body into superior and inferior parts

Frontal Plane

divides the body into anterior and posterior parts

Longitudinal Section

cuts made in the longest direction (length)

Transverse Section (cross section)

cuts made in the shortest direction (width)

Oblique Section

cuts made diagonally