Directional Terms, Cavities, and Body Planes

Anatomical position

The standard body orientation for anatomy where the body is upright facing forward with the palms facing out.

Anterior

More towards the front.

Posterior

More towards the back.

Inferior

More towards the bottom.

Superior

More towards the top.

Medial

More towards the middle of the body.

Lateral

Farther from the middle of the body.

Distal

Further from the attaching point.

Proximal

Closer to the attachment point.

Superficial

Closer to the surface of the body.

Deep

Farther away from the surface of the body.

Ventral

More towards the front.

Dorsal

More towards the back.

Sagittal Plane

Cutting someone that is standing in anatomical position down the middle.

Median Plane

If you do it perfectly, it is the median plane.

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

Cutting someone that is standing sideways down the middle.

Mid-frontal Plane

If you cut the Coronal plane perfectly, it is the mid-frontal plane.

Transverse Plane

Cutting someone that is standing in anatomical position at the waist.

Mid-Transverse Plane

If you cut the transverse plane perfectly, it is the mid-transverse plane.

Cranial cavity

Skull.

Dorsal cavity

Back Cavities.

Pelvic cavity

Bottom (crotch) cavity.

Ventral cavity

Front Cavities.

Thoracic cavity

Chest Cavity.

Vertebral cavity

Spine Cavity.

Abdominal cavity

Digestive cavity.

Abdomino-pelvic cavity

Combined region of digestive cavity and bottom cavity.