Anatomical Planes of the Body
Medical professionals often refer to sections of the body in terms of anatomical planes (flat surfaces). These planes are imaginary lines – vertical or horizontal – drawn through an upright body. The terms are used to describe a specific body part.
Listed below are general anatomical terms and their meanings.
| Anatomical Planes | |
|---|---|
| Coronal Plane or Frontal Plane | |
| Sagittal Plane or Lateral Plane | |
| Axial Plane or Transverse Plane | |
| Anatomical Terms | Direction |
| Medial | Toward the midline of the body |
| Lateral | Away from the midline of the body |
| Proximal | Toward a reference point (extremity) |
| Distal | Away from a reference point (extremity) |
| Inferior | Lower or below |
| Superior | Upper or above |
| Cephalad or Cranial | Head |
| Caudal or Caudad | Tail, tail end |
| Anterior | Toward the front |
| Posterior | Toward the back |
| Dorsal | Posterior |
| Ventral | Anterior |
Updated on: 02/01/10