Anatomical Position, Directional Terms, and Anatomical Planes and Axis

Anatomical position

• Standing upright

• Facing forward

• Legs parallel to each other, slightly apart

• Palms facing forward

• Thumbs facing outward

Posterior

behind

Anterior

in front of

Dorsal (body)

facing back/toward the back

Ventral (body)

facing forward/toward the belly

Left and right

based on the anatomical position

Proximal

closer to the origin/trunk

Distal

farther from the origin/trunk

Medial

closer to the midline

Lateral

farther from the midline

Midline

splits the body into equal left and right parts

Cranial (body)

toward the head

Superior

toward the top of the head

Caudal (body)

toward the tail

Inferior

toward the feet

External

toward the surface

Internal

away from the surface

Superficial

nearer to the surface

Deep

farther from the surface

Palmar

anterior hand / palm of hand

Dorsal (hand)

posterior surface of hand (dorsum)

Plantar

inferior surface of foot (sole)

Dorsal (foot)

Superior surface of foot

Rostral

anterior

Caudal (brain)

posterior

Dorsal (brain)

superior part of the cerebrum

Ventral (brain)

inferior part of the cerebrum

Radial

lateral side of the hand / forearm

Ulnar

medial side of the hand / forearm

Coronal plane

separates the body into anterior and posterior parts

Sagittal plane

splits the body into unequal left and right parts

Median plane

splits the body into equal left and right parts

Transverse plane (cross-section)

divides the body into superior and inferior parts

Vertical axis

intersection of coronal and sagittal planes

Horizontal axis

intersection of transverse and coronal planes

Sagittal axis

intersection of sagittal and transverse planes