Directional Terms

plane

a two-dimensional surface that divides two halves

vertical

oriented vertically up or down where the frontal and sagittal planes meet

sagittal

a plane that divides the body into left and right sections

frontal

a plane that divides the body into front and back sections

transverse

a plane that divides the body into top and bottom sections

anteroposterior

the axis that extends from posterior to anterior

axis

a line between two points

bilateral symmetry

anatomical parts that are the same on both sides of a plane

symmetry

matching form and configuration on opposite sides of a plane

directional term

caudal

directional term for near the posterior end of the body

medial

directional term for situated toward the midline of the body

distal

directional term for farther from the origin of the body part point of attachment

proximal

closer to the origin of the body part point of attachment

lateral

located away from the midline of the body off to the side

intermediate

located between a medial and lateral structure

deep

extending beneath the body surface

superficial

located near or toward the body surface

right

in medical terminology, a reference to the patient’s actual right side, and not to the healthcare worker’s right side

left

in medical terminology, a reference to the patient’s actual left side, and not to the healthcare worker’s left side

parallel

positioning of two structures that lie in the same plane and are positioned in a way that they are not touching each other

perpendicular

positioning of two structures that are at a right angle to each other

cranial

related to the upper part of the head or skull

inferior

anatomy located away from the head or toward the lower body

superior

anatomy located toward the head or upper part of the body

dorsal

positioned toward the back of the body

ventral

positioned towards the front, or abdominal side, of the body