| A | B |
|---|
| anterior (ventral) | toward the front (belly) of the body |
| posterior (dorsal) | toward the back of the body |
| medial | toward the midline of the body |
| lateral | toward the side of the body |
| proximal | nearer to the point of attachment or to a given reference point |
| distal | farther from the point of attachment or from a given reference point |
| superior | above |
| inferior | below |
| cranial (cephalic) | toward the head |
| caudal | toward the lower end of the spine |
| superficial (external) | close to surface of the body |
| deep (internal) | close to the center of the body |
| frontal plane | also called a coronal plane, is made at right angles to the midline and divides the body into anterior and posterior parts |
| sagittal plane | passes from front to back and divides the body into right and left portions, if the plane passes throught the midline, it is a mid-sagittal or medial plane |
| transverse plane | passes horizontally dividing the body into superior and inferior parts |
| anatomic position | standing erect, facing forward, arms at sides, palms forward, legs parallel, and toes pointed forward |
| decubitus position | lying down, specifically according to the part of the body resting on a flat surface, as in left or right lateral decubitus, or dorsal or ventral decubitus |
| dorsal recumbant position | on back, with legs bent and separated, feet flat |
| Fowler position | on back, head of bed raised about 18 inches and knees elevated |
| knee-chest position | on knees, head and upper chest on table, arms crossed above head |
| left lateral recumbent position | on left side, right leg drawn up |
| lithotomy position | on back, legs flexed on abdomen, thighs apart |
| prone | lying face down |
| Sims positon | on left side, right leg drawn up high and forward, left arm along back, and chest forward resting on bed |
| supine | lying face up |
| Trendelenburg position | on back with head lowered by tilting bed back at 45 degree angle |
