Anatomy & Development - Directional Terminology

Standard Anatomical Position

laying flat, palms upward, toes up

Medial Sagittal Plane

a plane going straight down the front middle of the standard anatomical position

Parasaggital Planes

planes on the sides of the median sagittal plane

Median/Medial

to the middle

Sagittal Plane

dividing the body from front to back into right and left portions

Coronal Plane

vertical, side-to-side line that divides the body to front (anterior) and back (posterior)

Anterior

the front of the body

Posterior

the back of the body

Ventral

the stomach side of the body

(another way to say anterior)

Dorsal (general)

the back of the stomach

(opposite of ventral, another way to say posterior)

[Horizontal] Transverse Plane

cutting the body through the waist horizontally

Superior

the top horizontal half of the body

Inferior

the lower horizontal half of the body

Cranial

towards the head

(same thing as superior)

Caudal

towards the tail

(same thing as inferior)

Lateral

away from the median sagittal plane

Proximal

close to a given reference point

(better to refer to a limb like this than say it’s superior or stuff)

Distal (general)

far away from a given reference point

(better to refer to a limb like this than say it’s inferior or stuff)

Palmar

special term for the up-facing side of your hand

Dorsal (hand)

refers to the back portion of the hand

Dorsal (foot)

refers to the top portion of the foot

Plantar

refers to the bottom portion of the foot

Lingual

inside the mouth, going towards the tongue (inward)

Buccal

inside the mouth, going toward the cheeks (outward)

Mesial

inside the mouth, toward the medial sagittal plane

Distal (mouth)

inside the mouth, away from the medial sagittal plane

Labial

inside the mouth, toward the lips

Occlusal

the biting surface of the tooth

Deep

going inward inside the body

ex. the lungs are deep to the skin

Superficial

going out of the body

ex. the skin is superficial to the lungs

Flexion

the movement that decreases the angle between limbs

ex. curling your arm

Extension

the movement that increases the angle between limbs

Abduction

moving your limbs away from the medial sagittal plane

ex. hip abductions (open)

Adduction

Moving your limbs toward the medial sagittal plane

ex. hip adductions (close)

Pronation

a type of rotation where you flip from the palm up to down

Supination

a type of rotation where you flip the palm form down to up (back to standard anatomical position)

Circumspection

rotation as if following a cone in the air

ex. throwing a ball

usually only possible with ball and socket joints

Inversion

the sole of your foot goes toward the midsagittal plane

Eversion

the sole of your foot turns away from the midsagittal plane

Dorsiflexion

flexing your toes up to the sky

Plantarflexion

flexing your toes down/straight