• Sagittal (midsagittal) plane

  1. Divides the body into left and right sides

• Transverse (horizontal) plane

  • Divides the body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) sections

• Frontal (coronal) plane

  • Divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) sections

Anatomical Terms

• Superior (towards the head) and inferior (towards the feet)

• Anterior (front) and posterior (back)

• Lateral (away from the midline) and medial (toward the midline)

• Proximal (closer to top of a limb) and distal (closer toward the bottom or end of a limb)

• Supine (lying face upwards) and prone (lying face downwards)