Anatomical Terms

Planes of Dissection

  • Sagittal Plane: A vertical plane that divides the body or organ into right and left sections.

  • Mid-Sagittal Plane: a vertical plane that divides the body or organ into EQUAL right and left halves (down the middle)

  • Frontal (Coronal) Plane: A vertical plane that divides the body or organ into front and back or anterior and posterior halves.

  • Transverse Plane: Cuts the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts.

Sagittal Vs Mid-Sagittal cut


SagittalMid-Sagittal

Position Terms

  • Superior: Toward the Upper portion of the organ (head is superior to the feet)

  • Inferior: Toward the Lower portion of the organ (feet are inferior to the head)

  • Anterior: Toward the front of the organ (nose is anterior to spine)

  • Posterior: Toward the back of the organ (spine is posterior to the nose)

  • Medial: Nearer to the Mid-Line of the organ (The nose is medial to the ears)

  • Lateral: Farther from the Mid-Line or middle of the organ (the ears are lateral to the nose)

  • Ipsilateral: on the Same side of the body or organ as another structure (the right eye and the right ear are on the ipsilateral side)

  • Contra-lateral: on Opposite sides of the body or organ from another structure (the right hand and the left foot are contralateral to each other)

  • Proximal: closer to the attachment point of the organ The thigh is PROXIMAL on the body in relation to the calf in the leg [each organ can have a proximal END. The top of the thigh is the proximal portion]

  • Distal: Further from the attachment point of the organ The calf is DISTAL on the body in relation to the thigh [each organ can have a distal END. The bottom of the thigh is the distal portion of the thigh]

  • Ventral: The underside of the body or organ (The belly of a shark is the ventral side)

  • Dorsal: The upper side of the body or organ (The back of a shark is the dorsal side)

  • Supine: Lying on your back (sUPine)

  • Prone: Lying face down (lying on stomach)