| A | B |
|---|
| anterior | toward the front (belly) of the body |
| posterior | 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, toward the top of the head |
| inferior | below, toward the feet |
| cranial | toward the head |
| caudal | toward the lower end of the spine |
| superficial | close to surface of the body |
| deep | 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 |
| prone | lying face down |
| supine | lying face up |
| Trendelenburg position | on back with head lowered by tilting bed back at 45 degree angle |
| ventral | toward the front (belly) of the body |
| dorsal | toward the back of the body |
| cephalic | toward the head |
