Directional Terms and Brain Planes in Anatomy

Anterior or Ventral

Refers to the front of the organism. Ventral means the 'belly' of a 4-legged animal.

Posterior or Dorsal

Refers to the back of the organism.

Superior

Refers to the direction above. One structure is above another.

Inferior

Refers to the direction below. One structure is below another.

Rostral

Refers to the head of the organism. Also refers to structures that are above others.

Caudal

Refers to the tail of the organism. Also refers to structures that are below others.

Medial

Refers to structures that are close to the midline of the body.

Lateral

Refers to structures that are further from the midline of the body.

Midsagittal

The midsagittal plane divides the left and right cerebral hemispheres. This plane divides the brain in half and runs along the medial longitudinal fissure.

Sagittal (also called Parasagittal)

The sagittal planes run parallel to the midsagittal plane.

Coronal (also called Frontal or Transverse)

The coronal planes run perpendicular to the sagittal planes. Coronal planes divide the anterior aspect of the brain from the posterior aspect.

Horizontal

The horizontal planes divide the superior aspect of the brain from the inferior aspect.