ANATOMY: Bones

sagittal plane

extends vertically and divides the body or an organ into right and left portions

median (midsagittal) plane

passes through the midline of the body and divides it into equal right and left halves

parasagittal plane

divide the body into unequal right and left portions

frontal (coronal) plane

divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions

transverse (horizontal) plane

passes across the body or an organ perpendicular to its long axis

anterior

toward the front of the body

posterior

toward the back of the body

ventral

toward the anterior side

dorsal

toward the posterior side

superior

above

inferior

below

cephalic

toward the head or superior end

rostral

toward the forehead or nose

caudal

toward the tail or inferior end

medial

toward the midline of the body

lateral

away from the midline of the body

proximal

closer to the point of attachment or origin

distal

farther from the point of attachment or origin

ipsilateral

on the same side of the body (right or left)

contralateral

on opposite sides of the body (right and left)

superficial

closer to the body surface

deep

farther from the body surface