Anatomical Planes of the Body
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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: 05/15/19
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Spinal Curves