Planes and regions

anatomical position

erect, feet forward, arms at side with palms facing forward, head facing forward

coronal plane (frontal plane)

divides body into front and back

sagittal plane (lateral plane)

divides body into left and right

transverse plane (axial plane)

An imaginary line where the body is divided into top and bottom parts.

Anterior (ventral)

front of the body

Posterior (dorsal)

back of body

superior

toward the head

Inferior

away from the head

cranical

head

Caudal

tail

Medial

toward the midline

Lateral

away from the midline

Proximal

Nearer to the trunk of the body

Distal

Farther from the trunk of the body

unilateral

pertaining to one side

bilateral

both sides

Ipsilateral

on the same side of the body as another structure

Contralateral

on the opposite side of the body from another structure

superfical

near the surface

intermediate

between a more medial and a more lateral structure

deep

away from the surface

Flexion

bending a joint

extension

Straightening of a joint

Abduction

Movement away from the midline of the body

adducton

Moving a body part towards the midline of the body

internal rotation

Rotation of a joint toward the middle of the body.

external rotation

Rotation of a joint away from the middle of the body.

Supination

movement that turns the palm up

Pronation

turning the palm downward

plantar flexion

bending of the sole of the foot by curling the toes toward the ground

Doriflexion

bending the foot up toward the leg