head and neck anatomy: anatomical directions

chapter 1

what does supine mean?

facing up

what does prone mean?

facing down

what does superior mean?

above, higher

what does coronal mean?

towards the head

what does inferior mean?

below, lower

what does caudal mean?

towards the tail

what does anterior mean?

forward, front

what does ventral mean?

belly side surface

what does posterior mean?

behind, rear

what does dorsal mean?

spine side

what does proximal mean?

closest to point of attachment

what does distal mean?

furthest from point of attachment

what does medial mean?

towards the middle

what does lateral mean?

towards the side

what does contralateral mean?

opposite sides

what does ipsilateral mean?

same side

what does unilateral mean?

one side only

what does bilateral mean?

both sides

what is an apex?

the tip of a conical structure

what does apical mean?

towards the apex

where is medial view from?

sagittal section

what do you see from a lateral view?

sagittal section

where is a superior view from?

above

where is an inferior view from?

below

what views are of a transverse plane?

superior and inferior

what do sagittal planes separate?

left and right

what do transverse planes separate?

top and bottom

what do frontal planes separate?

front and back

what is another name for frontal plane?

coronal plane