Anatomical Position

 1. Median Plane

• It is a vertical plane that cuts the body in the midline, to divide it into symmetrical left and right halves.
• It is also known as midsagittal plane.

2. Sagittal Plane

• It is a vertical plane that cuts the body, parallel to median plane. But the left and right halves are NOT symmetrical.

3. Coronal Plane

• It is a vertical side to side plane, that divides the body into front and back halves.
• It is at right angles to median plane.
• It is also known as Frontal plane.

4. Transverse Plane

• It is a horizontal plane, that divides the body into upper and lower halves.
• It is at right angles to all the previous planes (because, they are vertical planes).

5. Anterior

It means:

Towards or at the front surface of the body.

6. Posterior

It means:

Towards or at the Back surface of the body.

7. Medial

It means:

Towards the Median plane of the body.

8. Lateral

It means:

Away from the Median plane of the body.

9. Superior

It means:

Towards the Top of the head.

10. Inferior

It means:

Towards the Sole of the foot.

11. Superficial

It means:

Near to the Body surface.

12. Deep

It means:

Away from the Body surface.

13. Internal

It means:

Near to the interior of the body.

14. External

It means:

Away from the interior of the body.

15. Proximal

It means:

Near the origin or beginning of the structure.

16. Distal

It means:

Away from the origin or beginning of a structure.

17. Palmar

It means:

Front surface of the hand.

18. Plantar

It means:

Sole of the foot.