Anatomical Terms & Positions

Rostral

Towards the nostril

Cranial

Closer to the head

Caudal

toward the tail

Medial

toward the midline

Lateral

away from the midline

Dorsal

toward the back or the forelimb and hindlimb

Ventral

Toward the belly

Proximal

Closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

Distal

farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

Palmar

caudal aspect of forelimb (back of front paw)

Plantar

Caudal aspect of the hindlimb (back of back paw)

Labial

Toward the lips

Buccal

pertaining to the cheek

Palatal

Structures closest to the palate (roof of mouth)

Lingual

pertaining to the tongue

Coronal

Toward the crown of a tooth

Apical

pertaining to the apex (between the roots)

Occlusal

Toward adjoining teeth in same jaw (where teeth come together; chewing)

Deciduous

Baby teeth or "milk teeth"

Superficial

near the surface

Deep

Away from the body surface; more internal

transverse plane

cuts the body from front to back (vertically)

Dorsal Plane

Cuts the body from top to bottom (dorsal and ventral)

Sagittal plane

divides body into right and left sections (appendages only). Not always equal in sides, can be moved.

Median plane

a sagittal plane exactly on the midline of the body. Directly in middle.

Oblique orientation

axis at any other angle

Dorsalventral

Coming from dorsal side first in radiographs (on stomach)

Ventraldorsal

Coming from ventral side first (on back)

Transverse Plane

2.

Transverse Plane

3.

Dorsal Plane

4.

Sagittal plane

5.

Transverse Plane

6.

Median plane

Towards the belly

Ventral

Towards the head

Cranial (Anterior)

Towards the tail

Caudal (Posterior)

Towards the origin/center

Proximal

Away from the origin/center

Distal

Towards the spine

Dorsal

Away from backbone/midline

Lateral

Towards the nose

Rostral

Towards backbone/midline

Medial

Angle reduced

Flexion

Angle increased

Extension

Anatomical term for near the surface of a solid organ or surface of the body. 

Superficial

The bottom part of the back paw, opposite to dorsal

Plantar

The bottom part of the front paw, opposite to dorsal. 

Palmar

A depression in some body region or part

Fossa

The region that is exposed when performing a dorsal recumbency

Linea Alba

A position in which the animals are placed lying on their side

Lateral Recumbency 

A position in which the animals are placed lying on stomach. 

Ventral Recumbency

A position in which the animals are placed lying down on back

Dorsal Recumbency

What are the five regions within the bertebral column?

Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, Sacral, and Coccygeal

Dog’s Vertebral Formula

C7 - 7 Cervical
T13 - 13 Thoracic
L7 - 7 Lumbar
S3 - 3 Sacra
Cd 20 - 20-24 Coccygeal

Positioning Image

Label the four areas

Label the transverse plane and frontal plane