Body Orientation, Direction, Planes, & Sections

green - orientation & direction; purple - planes & sections

Superficial

on the surface

Anterior

front (face first)

Ventral

front (belly first)

Superior

above

Cephalad (cranial)

towards head

Lateral

towards side/outside

Proximal

closer to point of origin

Deep

beneath the surface

Posterior

back (buttocks)

Dorsal (dorsum)

back (spine)

Inferior

below

Caudal

towards tail; end of spine

Medial

towards midline; middle

Distal

further from point of origin

Sagittal Plane

right & left pieces

Midsagittal (median) Plane

right & left halves

Frontal (coronal) Plane

front & back pieces

Transverse Plane

top & bottom halves