Directions & Body Planes

sagittal

divides the body into unequal right and left halves

midsagital

separates the body into equal right and left halves

frontal/coronal

separates the body into front and back halves

anterior

front

posterior

back

dorsal

back

ventral

front

cephalic

pertaining to the head

caudal

at or near the tail, posterior end

superior

top/above

inferior

bottom/below

lateral

towards the outside

medial

towards the middle

proximal

closest to the point of attachment

distal

farthest from the point of attachment

transverse plane

separates the body into top and bottom halves

The forehead is ______ to the nose.

superior

The mouth is ______ to the nose.

inferior

The elbow is ______ to the shoulder.

distal

The knee is ______ to the hip.

distal

The elbow is ______ to wrist.

proximal

The knee is ______ to the ankle.

proximal

The spine is ______ to the heart.

dorsal

The thoracic cavity is ______ to the spinal cavity.

ventral

The thumb is ______ to the pinky finger.

lateral

The ring finger is ______ to the thumb.

medial