Commonly Used Anatomic Direction Terms

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Commonly Used Anatomic Direction Terms

TermMeaning
Longitudinal Along the length of; lengthwise
Sagittal A longitudinal, vertical plane that divides into right and left sides.
Mid-sagittalA plane which divides the body into anterior and posterior.
InferiorThe bottom half, toward the feet.
CaudalLocated at or near the hind or posterior of the body. Means the same as "dorsal" and "posterior."
InferiorBeneath. Used to reference an under-structure or something below another referenced structure.
SuperiorThe top half, toward the head.
DistalAway from the center.
Cross-sectionA plane formed by cutting through an object at right angles to an axis, which provides a representative sample of most parts contained within the whole.
ProximalNearest to a point of reference, such as a point of origin.
Horizontal (transverse)A plane that is parallel to the ground.

Orange cut in a longitudinal section.
Orange cut in cross-section.