Veterinary Technician

ventral

belly or underside of a body part

dorsal

refers to the back

cranial

toward the head

caudal

toward the tail

anterior

front of the body

posterior

rear of the body

rostral

nose end of the head

medial

toward midline

lateral

away from midline

superior

uppermost, above, or toward the head

inferior

lowermost, below, or toward the tail

proximal

nearest midline or nearest the beginning of a structure

distal

farthest from midline or farthest from the beginning of a structure

superficial

near the surface

deep

away from the surface, internal

palmar

caudal surface of the forelimb

plantar

caudal surface of the back of hindlimbs/rear

midsagittal plane

the plane that divides the body into equal right and left halves

sagittal plane

the plane that divides the body into unequal right and left parts

dorsal plane

the plane that divides the body into dorsal and ventral parts

transverse plane

the plane that divides the body into cranial and caudal parts.

dorsal recumbency

lying on the back

ventral recumbency

lying on the belly

left lateral recumbency

lying on the left side

right lateral recumbency

lying on the right side