Directional terms

Superior or cranial

Towards the head end of the body/upper
Inferior or caudal

Away from the head /lower
Anterior or ventral

Front/towards the front of the body
Posterior or dorsal

Towards the back of the body
Medial

Towrds the midline of the body (the medial line runs from top to bottom)
Lateral

further away from the midline of the body
Proximal

Towards or nearest to the trunk of the body or point of origin of a part/limb
Distal

Away from or furthest from the trunk or origin of a part/limb
How many body planes are there

3
Sagittal plane also called the lateral plane
- Vertical plane running from front to back.
- divides the body or any of it's parts into right and left sides
Axial plane also called the transverse plane
- A horizontal plane
- divides the body or any of it's parts into upper and lower parts
Coronal plane also called the frontal plane
- Vertical plane running from side to side
- divides the body or any of it's parts into anterior and posterior portions

Author

NickySimp

345225

Card Set

Directional terms

Description

Directional medical terminology

Updated

2019-02-09T15:24:56Z

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