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
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