Anatomical terminology provides standard nomenclature for the locations and relationships of structures in the body. Below are the terms used for direction, planes and cavities. Terms related to body systems, pharmacology, and so on will be introduced on the relevant pages.
The best way to understand the planes and directions is to see them:
Tu, Jiyuan & Inthavong, Kiao & Ahmadi, Goodarz. (2013). Reconstruction of the Human Airways. 10.1007/978-94-007-4488-2_3.
The 8 Directions
- Superior/Cranial/rostral: Toward the top of the body; also closer to the head than another body site (the nose is superior to the chin ).
Inferior/Caudal: Toward the bottom of the body; also closer to the bottom than another body site (the chin is inferior to the nose).
Anterior/Ventral: Front of the body (the nose is on the anterior side of the head).
Posterior/Dorsal: Back of the body (the nape is located on the posterior side of the head).
Medial: Toward the midline of the body (the nose is medial on the face).
Lateral: Away from the midline of the body (the ears are at the lateral sides of the face).
Proximal: Closer to the origin/attachment site (the palms are more proximal to the wrist than the elbow).
Distal: Farther from the origin/attachment site (the elbow is more distal from the palm than the wrist).
Note: You may also run across Deep and Superficial. These refer to how far the site is into the body. The dermis is superficial to the organs which are deep to the dermis.
The 4 Planes
Coronal/Frontal: anterior and posterior (front and back through the body from the side).
Sagittal: Cuts right and left through the body, but not evenly.
Median: A sagittal plane that divides the body into equal right and left halves.
Transverse/Axial: upper and lower.
The 4 Cavities
Thoracic: The heart, lungs, trachea, esophagus, and large blood vessels.
Abdominal: The majority of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, and adrenal glands.
Pelvic: The urogenital system and rectum.
Dorsal: The cranial cavity and vertebral canal.