Body Positions, Directional Terms, and Planes of the Body

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing body positions, directional terminology, and anatomical body planes.

Anatomical Position

Standing upright, facing forward, arms at sides, palms forward.

Prone Position

Lying face down.

Supine Position

Lying face up.

Superior (Cephalic/Cranial)

Towards the head (Upper); Top-Head.

Inferior

Away from the head (Lower); Lower-Feet.

Anterior (Ventral)

Front of body; Front-Abs.

Posterior (Dorsal)

Back of body; Back-Spine.

Medial

Towards midline; Mid-Center.

Lateral

Away from midline; Side-Limbs.

Ipsilateral

Same side; Same-Side (SS).

Contralateral

Opposite side; Cross-Opposite (CO).

Planes

Imaginary flat surfaces passing through the body.

Sagittal Plane

Vertical plane dividing the body into right and left parts (SAGITTAL = SIDE-TO-SIDE (Right/Left)).

Midsagittal Plane

Divides into equal right and left halves at the midline (MID = MIDDLE (Equal Halves)).

Parasagittal Plane

Divides into unequal right and left parts (PARA = PARALLEL (Unequal Parts)).

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

Vertical plane dividing into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts (FRONTAL = FRONT & BACK).

Transverse (Horizontal) Plane

Horizontal plane dividing into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts (TRANSVERSE = TOP & BOTTOM).

Oblique Plane

Cuts at an angle other than $90^\text{o}$ (OBLIQUE = ODD ANGLE).