Anatomy Directional Terms + Body Planes + Body Cavities

Axial

Head, neck, and trunk

Appendicular

Limbs attached to the axis

Superior

toward the top

Inferior

toward the bottom

Anterior

toward the front

Posterior

toward the back

Medial

toward the middle

Lateral

away from middle

Intermediate

in between

Proximal

closest to point of limb attachment

Distal

farther from point of limb attachment

Superficial

towards body surface

Deep

away from body surface

Sagittal

Cut left and right

Midsagittal

Sagittal cut directly in the middle

Parasagittal

Sagittal cut off-center, not in the middle

Frontal

Cut front and back

Transverse

Cut top and bottom

Dorsal Cavity

Brain + Spinal Chord

Cranial Cavity

Brain

Vertebral Cavity

Spinal chord inside vertebrae

Ventral Cavity

thoracic + abdominopelvic

Thoracic

heart and lungs

Abdominopelvic

abdomen + pelvis

Abdominal cavity

stomach, intestines, spleen, liver

Pelvic Cavity

bladder, some reproductive organs, and rectum