Body Planes

Transverse Plane

A transverse (also known as axial or horizontal) plane is an X-Z plane, parallel to the ground, which separates the superior from the inferior, or put another way, the head from the feet.

Coronal Plane

A coronal (also known as frontal or lateral) plane is a Y-X plane, perpendicular to the ground, which (in humans) separates the anterior from the posterior, the front from the back, the ventral from the dorsal.

Sagittal Plane

A sagittal (also known as anteroposterior) plane is an Y-Z plane, perpendicular to the ground, which separates left from right. The midsagittal plane is the specific sagittal plane that is exactly in the middle of the body.

Body Aspect- Side and Front view

 

Anterior or Ventral

Anterior (ventral) refers to the ‘front’.

Posterior or Dorsal

Posterior (dorsal) refers to the ‘back’.

Superior

Superior means ‘higher’.

Inferior

Inferior means ‘lower’.

Lateral

Lateral means ‘ side’.

Proximal

In proximity to or ‘closer to’.

Distal

Distant or further away from.

Medial

Medial means ‘middle.’

Directions

Prefix                          Meaning                                Example

ab-                                             away from                                           abduction

ad-                                             toward                                                  adduction

ecto, exo –                                outside                                                  exocrine, ectopic

endo –                                       within                                                    endoscopy

epi –                                           upon                                                       epidermis

infra –                                    below, under                                          infrastructure     

ipsi –                                         same                                                       ipsilateral

meso –                                     middle                                                     mesoderm

meta –                 after, beyond, transformation                           metastasis

peri-                                       surrounding                                           pericardium

retro-                                    behind, back                                            retro version

trans-                                  across, through                                       trans membrane