Locations within the Human Body

anterior/ventral

in front of

posterior/dorsal

behind/toward the back

superior/cranial (axial only)

above/toward the top

inferior/caudal (axial only)

below/toward the bottom

medial

toward the midline

lateral

away from the midline

intermediate

between

proximal (appendage only)

closer to point of attachment

distal (appendage only)

farther from point of attachment

superficial

closer to the external body

deep

farther from the external body

ipsilateral

same side

contralateral

opposite side

coronal (frontal) plane

vertical plane: anterior to posterior

transverse (horizontal) plane

superior to inferior

sagittal plane

left and right

midsagittal plane

equally separates left and right

oblique plane

at an angle