Terminology for body planes and regions

Anatomical Position

standing, feet and palms facing forward; a reference point

Coronal Plane (aka Frontal Plane)

divided into anterior (front) and posterior (back)

sagittal plane

equal right and left sides (median plane - R and L equal halves)

Transverse Plane

horizontal or cross section

Axes

an imaginary, straight line, passing through a moveable joint

Superior

above another structure (the skull is superior to the shoulders)

inferior

below another structure (the ankles are inferior to the knees)

Anterior

fore or front

posterier

after or following

Cranial

pertains to skull - used when describing locations in quadrupeds

Caudal

pertains to tail - used when describing locations on quadrupeds

Dorsal

upper surfaces or back

Ventral

underneath surfaces or belly

Proximal

nearest to point of attachment

Distal

the furthest point from the point of reference

medial

closest to the median line (inside of the knee)

lateral

side or surface farthest away from the median line (outside of the knee)

prone

to lie on ones belly (face down)

supine

to lay on ones back (face up; supine = spine)

Superficial

close to the surface (scrape)

deep

structures furthest from the surface (cuts)

ipsilateral

on the same side of the original injury

contralateral

on the opposite side of the original injury