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