med term anatomical regions

word, region

transverse plane

• horizontal line

• divides body into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) planes

sagittal plane

• vertical line

• divides body into left and right sections

coronal plane

• vertical plane

• divides body into anterior (front) and posterior (back)

superior

• toward head

• upper, top, above

• “your shoulder is superior to your elbow.”

inferior

• away head

• lower, bottom, below

• “your feet are inferior to your head.”

anterior

• front

• “your shin is anterior to your calf.”

posterior

• back

• “your spine is posterior to your heart.”

medial

• toward midline of body

• middle

• '“your nose is medial to your eyes.”

lateral

• away midline of body

• toward side

• “your ears are lateral to your nose.”

proximal

• toward trunk (chest or abdomen)

• OR point of origin of a part

distal

• away trunk

• OR point of origin of a part

superficial

• close to surface of the body

• “skin is superficial to the muscles.”