Above; towards the head or upper part of a structure
Superior
Below; away from the head or lower part of a structure
Inferior
Front; nearer to or at the front of the body
Anterior
Back; nearer to or at the back of the body
Posterior
Nearer to the midline
Medial
Farther from the midline
Lateral
Nearer to; if a limb, nearer to the point of attachment
Proximal
Farther from; if a limb, farther from the point of attachment
Distal
Toward or on the surface of the body
Superficial
Away from the surface of the body
Deep
On the same side of the body as another structure
Ipsilateral
On the opposite side of the body from another structure
Contralateral
Vertical, divides the body into right and left
Sagittal Plane
Sagittal plane directly down the midline (equal
parts)
Mid Sagittal Plane
Sagittal plane offset from the midline (unequal parts)
Parasagittal Plane
Vertical, divides body into anterior and posterior portions
Frontal Plane
Horizontal, divides the body into superior and
inferior portions
Transverse Plane
Passes through the body on an angle between the transverse plane and either a sagittal or
frontal plane
Oblique Plane
