| A | B |
|---|
| medial | toward the middle of the structure or entire body |
| lateral | towards the side of the structure or entire body |
| superior | towards the top |
| transverse plane | cuts the body into superior and inferior portions; runs horizontal |
| sagittal plane | cuts the structure into right and left portions; runs vertically |
| frontal plane | cuts the structure into anterior & posterior portions; runs side to side |
| mid- | prefix used when a plane cuts a structure into equal parts |
| ventral | towards the front |
| dorsal | towards the back |
| peritoneum | lining of the abdominal cavity |
| midline | also known as the midsagital plane |
| anterior | situated in the front |
| posterior | situated in the back |
| inferior portion | lower most or below the feet |
| cephalic | toward the head |
| caudal | toward the tail or lower end |
| proximal | situated nearest to the midline or closest to the body |
| distal | Farthest from the body or midline |
| thoracic cavity | chest cavity or thorax that contains the heart and lungs |
| abdominal cavity | contains the major organs for digestion |
| diaphragm | separates the abdominal and thoracic cavity |
| pelvic cavity | Space formed by the hipbones that contains reproductive and excretory organs |
| dorsal cavity | contains the cranial or spinal cavity |
