body directional terms (dho)

Superior

Above other body parts

Inferior

Below other body parts

Cranial

near the head

caudal

near the sacrum/towards the lower part of the body

Medial

Close to the midline

Lateral

Away from the midline

Ventral/Anterior

Referring to the front or belly side of the body.

Dorsal/Posterior

Referring to the back side of the body or structure.

Proximal

Closer to the point of reference

Distal

further from the point of reference

Superficial/external

Closer to the body surface

Deep/internal

Further from the surface of the body.

Transverse plane

Horizontal Plane that divides the body into a top + bottom half

Midsagittal/median plane

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

Frontal/Coronal plane

Vertical plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections.