Anatomy and Physiology 1: Directional terms

dorsal

back

proximal

Closer to the point of attachment on the body (or the trunk)

distal

Farther from the trunk of the body

medial

Toward the midline

lateral

Away from the midline

ventral

Toward the front

anterior

front of the body

posterior

back of the body

superior

above

inferior

below

caudal

below

cranial

above

deep

Away from the body surface; more internal

superficial

On or near the surface

coronal plane

A vertical plane that divides the body into ventral and dorsal sections

divides the body into front and back

mid-sagittal plane

Divides the body into equal left and right halves

transverse plane

divides body into cranial and caudal parts (cross section)

saggital plane

divide the body vertically into left and right portions

your forehead is _____________ to your chest.

superior

your belly button is _________ to your neck.

inferior

your chest is _________ to your spine.

anterior

your heart is ___________ to your arms.

medial

your ears are __________ to your nose.

lateral

your elbow is ____________ to your wrist.

proximal

your knee is ___________ to your thigh.

distal

your skin is ___________ to your skeleton.

superficial

your lungs are ___________ to your rib cage.

deep