Medical Positions

Anatomical position

Universally accepted starting point used to describe or analyze anatomical terms or movement.

Criteria for anatomical position

Upright standing position; face and feet pointing forward; arms at sides with palms facing forward.

Frontal (coronal) plane

Vertical plane that splits the body into front and back halves.

Sagittal plane

Vertical plane that splits the body into left and right halves.

Midsagittal plane:

Vertical plane that splits the body into equal left and right halves.

Transverse plane

Horizontal plane that splits the body into upper and lower halves.

Medial

Toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body.

Superficial

On or close to the surface of the body.

Deep

Farther away from the surface of the body.

Superior (cranial)

Toward the top of the body.

Inferior (caudal)

Toward the bottom of the body.

Anterior (ventral)

Toward the front of the body.

Posterior (dorsal)

Toward the back of the body.

Proximal

Situated closest to the point of attachment (used for extremities).

Distal

Situated farthest from the point of attachment (used for extremities).

Abduction

Movement away from the midline of the body.

Adduction

Movement toward the midline of the body.

Prone

Body facing down.

Supine

Body facing up.

Flexion

Bending a joint.

Extension

Straightening a joint.