ANATOMIC PLANES AND SECTIONS
Median - The midline, longitudinal plane dividing the head and torso into right/left halves. The presence of the
vertebral column and spinal cord is characteristic of the median plane of the torso. The median plane is the middle
sagittal plane.
Sagittal- The longitudinal plane dividing the body into left and right parts. It is parallel to the median plane and may be
applied to the head, torso and limbs.
Coronal, Frontal - The longitudinal plane dividing the body into equal or unequal front and back parts. In CT and MRI,
the term "coronal" is used by radiologists.
Cross, Transverse - The transverse plane dividing the body or body parts into upper and lower segments. This plane
is a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal planes. Transverse plan of the body, called axial or transaxial
sections by radiologists, are commonly seen in CT and MRI studies of the body.
TERMS OF POSITION AND DIRECTION
Terms of position and direction describe the relationship of the organ to another, usually along one of the three body
planes.
Cranial, Superior, Rostral - these terms refer to a structure being closer to the head or higher than another structure
of the body
Anterior, Ventral- these terms refer to a structure being more in front that another structure in the body the term
anterior is preferred
Posterior, Dorsal- these terms refer to a structure being more impact than another structure the term for is preferred
Medial- this term refers to a structure that is closer to the median plane then another structure in the body, medial is
not synonymous with median
Lateral- this term refers to a structure that is further away from the median plane than another structure in the body
Proximal- employed only with reference this term refers to a being closer to the median plane or root of the limb
another structure in the limb
Distal- employed only with reference to the limbs, this term refers to a structure being further away from the median
plane or root of the limb than another structure in the limb
Caudal, inferior- these terms refer to a structure being closer to the feet or the lower part off the body then another
structure in the body
Superficial, Deep- the term superficial animals with external, and the term deep with internal. related to the reference
point on the chest wall structure closer to the surface of the body is superficial, structure further away from the
surface is deep
Ipsilateral, Contralateral- This term ipsilateral means on the same side, contralateral means on the opposite side of
the reference point
Median - The midline, longitudinal plane dividing the head and torso into right/left halves. The presence of the
vertebral column and spinal cord is characteristic of the median plane of the torso. The median plane is the middle
sagittal plane.
Sagittal- The longitudinal plane dividing the body into left and right parts. It is parallel to the median plane and may be
applied to the head, torso and limbs.
Coronal, Frontal - The longitudinal plane dividing the body into equal or unequal front and back parts. In CT and MRI,
the term "coronal" is used by radiologists.
Cross, Transverse - The transverse plane dividing the body or body parts into upper and lower segments. This plane
is a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal planes. Transverse plan of the body, called axial or transaxial
sections by radiologists, are commonly seen in CT and MRI studies of the body.
TERMS OF POSITION AND DIRECTION
Terms of position and direction describe the relationship of the organ to another, usually along one of the three body
planes.
Cranial, Superior, Rostral - these terms refer to a structure being closer to the head or higher than another structure
of the body
Anterior, Ventral- these terms refer to a structure being more in front that another structure in the body the term
anterior is preferred
Posterior, Dorsal- these terms refer to a structure being more impact than another structure the term for is preferred
Medial- this term refers to a structure that is closer to the median plane then another structure in the body, medial is
not synonymous with median
Lateral- this term refers to a structure that is further away from the median plane than another structure in the body
Proximal- employed only with reference this term refers to a being closer to the median plane or root of the limb
another structure in the limb
Distal- employed only with reference to the limbs, this term refers to a structure being further away from the median
plane or root of the limb than another structure in the limb
Caudal, inferior- these terms refer to a structure being closer to the feet or the lower part off the body then another
structure in the body
Superficial, Deep- the term superficial animals with external, and the term deep with internal. related to the reference
point on the chest wall structure closer to the surface of the body is superficial, structure further away from the
surface is deep
Ipsilateral, Contralateral- This term ipsilateral means on the same side, contralateral means on the opposite side of
the reference point
