Anatomical Terms

superior

upper in position, towards the head

inferior

lower in position, towards the feet

anterior

towards the front

posterior

towards the back

ventral

belly side

dorsal

back side

midline

an imaginary line through the middle of the body

medial

towards the midline

lateral

away from the midline

distal

away from the origin or point of attachment to the body

proximal

toward the origin or point of attachment to the body

sagittal

an imaginary vertical plane dividing the body left into right side or parts

transverse plane

an imaginary horizontal line from left to right that divides the body into superior and inferior parts

coronal plane

an imaginary vertical line dividing the body into anterior and posterior parts