Anatomic Directional Terms, Planes, Body Cavities

Anterior or ventral

toward the front of the body

Posterior or dorsal

toward the back of the body

Superior

toward the head or upper part of a structure

Inferior

away from the head or toward the lower part of a structure

Medial

towards center line/midpoint

Lateral

further away from center line/midpoint

Proximal

closer to ther origin point

Distal

further from the origin point

Cranial or Cephalic

head end

Caudal

tail end

Deep

moving inward of the body

Superifcial

moving outward towards surface of the body

Transverse plane

horizontal plane dividing the body into superior and inferior portions

circle/oval when cut

Coronal or frontal

vertical plane dividing the body into anterior and posterior portions

symmetry (in muscles and bones) when identifying

Median or Sagittal

vertical plane running down the midline (midsagittal), dividing the body into equal left and right halves (midsagittal)

Paramedian/Parasagittal = not midline; still same direction of cut/plane

Oblique

diagonal plane

Posterior or dorsal cavity

back

Cranial cavity

head

Vertebral cavity

spinal

Anterior or ventral cavity

front

Thoracic cavity

chest

Pleural cabity

surrounds lungs

Pericardial cavity

heart

Mediastinum

central chest portion

Abdominopelvic cavity

abdomen

Peritoneal cavity

potential space within abdomen lined by peritoneum, containing organs wrapped in visceral peritoneum

Extraperitoneal space

region of abdomen and pelvis located outside the peritoneal cavity

Retroperitoneal space

area of the extraperitoneal space situated directly behind the parietal peritoneum

Pelvic cavity

pelvis

Infraperitioneal or subperitoneal space

region located inferior to the parietal peritoneum, within the pelvic cavity, with structures like the urinary bladder and rectum