1. Directional Terminology

Cranial

Towards the head

Caudal

Towards the tail

Rostral

Towards the nose (head region)

Dorsal

Towards the back

Ventral

Towards the belly

Proximal

Towards the body (only on extremities)

Distal

Away from the body (only on extremities)

Medial

Towards the mid-line/medial plane

Lateral

Away from the mid-line/medial plane

Palmar

Palm surface of the forelimb (applies to distal portion of the carpus only)

Plantar

Sole-surface of the hindlimb (applies to distal portion of the tarsus only)

Superficial

Towards the surface of he body or body part

Deep

Towards the center of the body or body part

External

Towards the surface of the body or body part

Internal

Towards the center of the body or body part

Recumbency

Refers to the side the animal is laying on

Carpus

Wrist

Tarsus

Ankle

Superior (Human Anatomic Direction)

Towards the head

Inferior (Human Anatomic Direction)

Towards the feet

Anterior (Human Anatomic Direction)

Towards the front of the body

Posterior (Human Anatomic Direction)

Towards the back of the body

Unilateral

On one side

Bilateral

On both sixes

Dorsal Plane

Separates dorsal and ventral

Median (midsagittal) plane

Separates left and right equally

Sagittal plane

Separates left and right unequally

Transverse Plane (on body)

Separates cranial and caudal

Transverse plane (on limb)

Separates proximal and distal

Directional Terminology

Specific terms based on specific bone and joint references

Regional Terminology

Special jargon based on small areas or regions of the body

Withers

Refers to dorsal back in between shoulder blades

Barrel

Refers to ribcage region

Poll

Dorsal skull in between ears on medial plane

Muzzle

Nose and mouth region

Flank

Lateral surface of abdomen between barrel and thigh

Brisket

Pectoral or chest region

Knee

Refers to the carpus or wrist

Stifle

Refers to the knee region on the hindlimb

Hock

Tarsus region (ankle)

Shin

Cranial tibia region

Pastern

Refers to the proximal and middle phalanx region

Fetlock

Refers to the joint between the cannon bone and the pastern

Directional Terminology

Scientific terms based on specific bone and joint references used to communicate efficiently and accurately in clinical and anatomical situations.

Proper Anatomical Orientation

The standard reference orientation in which the animal is facing the observer, meaning the animal's left is on the observer's right and vice versa.

Cranial

An anatomic direction meaning towards the head; cannot be used when the starting point is already on the head, nor on limb segments distal to the carpus or tarsus.

Caudal

An anatomic direction meaning towards the tail; can be used starting from points on the head, but is not used on limb segments distal to the carpus or tarsus.

Rostral

An anatomic direction meaning towards the nose; used specifically to replace 'cranial' when the starting point or reference is located on the head.

Dorsal

An anatomic direction or surface meaning towards the back of the body, as well as the reverse (top) surface of the palmar and plantar aspects on the distal limbs.

Ventral

An anatomic direction meaning towards the belly; used only on the body/torso and never on the limbs.

Medial

An anatomic direction meaning towards the mid-line or median plane.

Lateral

An anatomic direction meaning away from the mid-line or median plane.

Proximal

An anatomic direction meaning towards the body or base of a limb; on the extremities, it terminates proximally at the scapula on the forelimb and the femur on the hindlimb (can also refer to the base of the tail).

Distal

An anatomic direction meaning away from the body or towards the tip of a limb, terminating at the last phalanges (can also refer towards the tip of the tail).

Palmar

The surface terminology referring to the 'palm' or caudal-facing surface of the front paws, applied strictly distal to the carpus (wrist).

Plantar

The surface terminology referring to the 'sole' or caudal-facing surface of the back paws, applied strictly distal to the tarsus (ankle).

Superficial (External)

An anatomic direction or position meaning towards the surface or outer surface of the body or a body part.

Deep (Internal)

An anatomic direction or position meaning towards the center or interior of the body or a body part.

Recumbency

A clinical term that describes the specific surface or side on which an animal is resting or laying down.

Dorsal Recumbency

An anatomical position in which an animal is laying on its dorsal surface (its back).

Ventral Recumbency

An anatomical position in which an animal is laying on its ventral surface (its belly).

Right Lateral Recumbency

An anatomical position in which an animal is laying on its right lateral side.

Superior

A human anatomical directional term meaning towards the head; used in specific veterinary contexts such as the brain, eyes, or heart.

Inferior

A human anatomical directional term meaning towards the feet.

Anterior

A human anatomical directional term meaning towards the front of the body.

Posterior

A human anatomical directional term meaning towards the back of the body.

Unilateral

Affecting, occurring on, or pertaining to only one side of the body.

Bilateral

Affecting, occurring on, or pertaining to both sides of the body.

Ipsilateral

Affecting or occurring on the same side of the body.

Contralateral

Affecting or occurring on the opposite side of the body.

Dorsal Plane (Frontal Plane)

An anatomical plane that divides the body into dorsal and ventral portions.

Median Plane (Midsagittal Plane)

An anatomical plane that passes longitudinally through the midline, dividing the body into equal left and right halves.

Sagittal Plane

An anatomical plane parallel to the median plane that divides the body into unequal left and right portions.

Transverse Plane (Body)

An anatomical plane passing perpendicular to the long axis of the torso, dividing the body into cranial and caudal portions.

Transverse Plane (Limb)

An anatomical plane passing perpendicular to the long axis of an extremity, dividing the limb into proximal and distal portions.

Regional Terminology

Specialized jargon and common anatomical designations based on small surface areas or general regions of an animal's body rather than precise bone/joint markers.

Withers

A regional anatomical term referring to the dorsal area of the back situated between the shoulder blades.

Barrel

A regional anatomical term referring to the ribcage and trunk region of an animal.

Poll

A regional anatomical term referring to the dorsal aspect of the skull located between the ears along the median plane.

Muzzle

A regional anatomical term referring to the rostral region comprising the nose and mouth.

Flank

A regional anatomical term referring to the lateral surface of the abdomen between the barrel (ribcage) and the thigh.

Brisket

A regional anatomical term referring to the ventral pectoral or chest region of large animals.

Knee (Large Animal Regional)

The large animal regional designation for the carpus (equivalent to the human wrist joint).

Stifle

The regional anatomical and veterinary term referring to the true knee joint (femorotibial/femoropatellar joint) of the hindlimb.

Hock

The regional anatomical term referring to the tarsus or ankle region of quadrupedal animals.

Shin

A regional anatomical term referring to the cranial region of the tibia.

Pastern

A regional anatomical term referring to the distal limb region encompassing the proximal and middle phalanges.

Fetlock

A regional anatomical term referring to the metacarpophalangeal or metatarsophalangeal joint between the cannon bone and the pastern.

Proper Anatomical Orientation

The standard positioning where the animal is facing the observer, meaning the animal's left is on the observer's right and the animal's right is on the observer's left.

Medial

Directed towards the midline or median plane of the body.

Lateral

Directed away from the midline or median plane of the body.

Cranial

Towards the head; cannot be used when the starting point is on the head or on the limb distal to the carpus or tarsus.

Caudal

Towards the tail; can be used from a starting point on the head, but is not used on limbs distal to the carpus or tarsus.

Rostral

Towards the nose; used specifically within the head region to replace the term cranial.

Dorsal

Towards the back of the body, as well as the anterior/top surface of the distal limb below the carpus and tarsus.

Ventral

Towards the belly; applied only to the torso/body and never used on the limbs.

Recumbency

The clinical term describing the specific side or surface upon which an animal is lying.

Dorsal Recumbency

The position of an animal lying on its back with its ventral side exposed upwards.

Ventral Recumbency

The position of an animal lying on its belly.

Lateral Recumbency

The position of an animal lying on its side, designated as either right lateral or left lateral depending on which side is contacting the ground.