anatomical planes/directional terms

what are the three main anatomical planes?

sagittal plane, frontal (coronal) plane, transverse (horizontal) plane

sagittal plane

divides body vertically into left and right sections

midsagittal (median) plane

a sagittal plane that runs directly down the midline of the body dividing into equal halves

parasagittal plane

any sagittal plane that is offset from midline, dividing into unequal left and right parts

frontal (coronal) plane

divides body vertically into front (asterior) and back (posterior) sections

transverse (horizontal) plane

divides the body horizontally into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) sections

superior (cranial/cephalic)

towards the head/ above

example - the nose is superior to the mouth

inferior (caudal)

away from the head/below

example - the mouth is inferior to the nose

anterior (ventral)

towards the front of the body

example - the nose is anterior to the ears

posterior (dorsal)

towards the back of the body/behind

example - the heart is posterior to the breastbone

medial

towards the midline of the body

example - the heart is medial to the arm

lateral

away from the midline/ on the outerside of

example - the arms are lateral to the chest

proximal

closer to center of body/ or where limb attaches

example - the elbow is proximal to the wrist

distal

farther from the origin, or attachment of limb

example - the knee is distal to the thigh

superficial (external)

at/ closer to the body surface

example - the skin is superficial to the skeletal muscles

deep (internal)

away from the body surface

example - the skeletal muscles are deep to the skin

ipsilateral

on the same side

example - the right arm and right leg are ipsilateral

contralateral

on opposite sides

example - the right arm and right leg are contralateral