Anatomical Terms (Physio)

ventral

away from backbone or toward front of body

dorsal

toward backbone, away from front of body

anterior

toward the front, or away from back. Usually used with reference to free extremities or the head, but may be used interchangeably with ventral.

posterior

toward the back, or away from front. Can be used interchangeably with dorsal.

In hands and forearms, ___________ used for ventral, while dorsal retained. In feet, sole of foot called plantar, while dorsal is top of foot.

palmar

In feet, sole of foot called _________, while dorsal is top of foot.

plantar

superficial

toward the surface

deep

away from surface

superior

upper

inferior

lower

cranial

toward head--rostral and cephalad used too

caudal

toward tail, away from head

external

toward the outer surface--used most often to describe body cavities or body wall, but sometimes used interchangeably with superficial

internal

toward the inner surface, interchangeable with deep

medial

toward the axis or midline

lateral

away from axis or midline

proximal

toward the body or toward the root of a free extremity

distal

away from body or root of free extremity

central

pertaining to or situated at center

peripheral

toward the outward surface or part.

buccal

pertaining to mouth or inner surface of cheeks

cervical

pertaining to neck

contralateral

opposite side

ipsilateral

same side

costal

pertaining to ribs

sagittal plane

vertical cut which divides body uneven into right and left halves--parallel to sagittal suture

Medial sagittal or midsagittal or medial plane

divides body midline into left/right halves

frontal or coronal plane

divides body into front and back parts--parallel with coronal suture

transverse plane or horizontal plane

divides body into upper and lower parts

Oblique plane

divides body at an angle