Body Planes Vocab

Anatomical position

Anatomical position

The positioning of the body when standing upright, facing forward, with arms at the sides and palms facing forward.

Frontal

Pertaining to the forehead.

Transverse

Horizontal plane.

Sagittal

Vertical plane passing through the body longitudinally.

Inferior

Towards the bottom or away from the head-end of the body.

Caudal

Towards the tail or away from the head-end of the body.

Posterior/Dorsal

The back of a structure or toward the back of the body.

Anterior/Ventral

"In front of" or the front surface of the body.

Acromial

The outer end of the shoulder blade forming the highest part of the shoulder.

Medial

Toward the middle or center.

Lateral

To the side of or away from the middle of the body.

Proximal

Nearer to the center or point of attachment to the body.

Deep

Away from the surface or further into the body.

Superficial

On the surface or shallow.

Superior

Toward the head end of the body; upper.

Distal

A part of the body farther away from the center than another part.

Otic

Relating to or located in the region of the ear.

Nasal

Hollow spaces where air flows in and out.

Ocular

Study of the structures and muscles within the eye.

Orbital

Bony structures of the skull that house the eye and associated tissues.

Buccal

Relating to the cheek.

Cervical

The neck area of the spine.

Cranial

Relating to the skull or cranium.

Cranium

The bones that form the head.

Cephalic

Relating to the head or head end of the body.

Olecranal

The bony prominence of the elbow formed by the ulna.

Sacral

An irregular bone making up the posterior third of the pelvic girdle.

Lumbar

The lower back region of the spinal column.

Antebrachium

The part of the arm between the brachium and the carpus.

Palmar

The palm or anterior surface of the hand.

Axillary

Pertaining to the armpit area.

Thoracic

The space in the chest containing vital organs and structures.

Brachial

Belonging to the arm or forelimb.

Abdominal

The part of the body between the chest and hips containing various organs.

Umbilical

Relating to or used at the navel.

Pelvic

The area below the abdomen between the hip bones.

Antecubital

Relating to the crook of the elbow.

Carpal

Bones of the wrist connecting forearm to hand.

Phalangeal

The bones of the fingers and toes.

Coxal

A large, flat, irregular bone in the hip region.

Femoral

Relating to the femur or thigh.

Patellar

The kneecap.

Crural

Relating to the thigh or leg.

Popliteal

The area located on the posterior aspect of the knee.

Sural

Relating to the calf of the leg.

Calcaneal

The bone forming the back of the foot, transferring body weight.

Plantar

Pertaining to the sole of the foot.

Tarsal

A set of seven irregularly shaped bones in the ankle area.