Cavities & Anatomical Terms

Anatomical Position

The standard position of the body used as a reference in anatomy, where a person stands upright, facing forward, with arms at the sides and palms facing forward.

(Mid) Sagittal plane

A vertical plane that divides the body into right and left parts, with the mid-sagittal plane being the specific plane that runs down the center of the body.

coronal plane

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

transverse plane

The horizontal plane that divides the body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) parts, allowing for cross-sectional views of anatomical structures.

oblique plane

A plane that cuts through the body at an angle, not parallel to the sagittal, coronal, or transverse planes, often used to visualize structures in a more complex orientation.

medial

referring to a position closer to the midline of the body.

lateral

Describes a position toward the outer side of the body, away from the midline.

ventral

Referring to the front or belly side of the body; opposite of dorsal.

dorsal

Referring to the back side of the body; opposite of ventral.

cranial

it refers to structures or locations near or toward the head

caudal

it refers to structures or locations far or away from the head.

deep

Describes structures located further from the surface of the body.

superficial

Close to the body’s surface.

proximal

Nearest to the point of attachment or origin.

distal

furthest from the point of attachment or origin.

preaxial border

Thumb side of the hand/foot

postaxial border

Pinky side of the hand/foot

flexion

Decreases the angle between two body parts, usually in the sagittal plane.

extension

Increases the angle between two body parts, usually in the sagittal plane.

prone

Lying face down.

supine

lying face up.

dorsal cavity

Includes cranial (brain & CSF) and vertebral canal (spinal cord) cavities.

ventral cavity

Thoracic (lungs and heart), abdominal (GI tract, liver, pancreas), and pelvic cavities (reproductive organs and bladder.)