Body Planes and Cavities

Front

Sagittal Plane Noun

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[saj-i-tl pleyn]

Back

Sagittal Plane

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A vertical plane running from front to back, dividing the body or its parts into right and left sides.

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Example: The sagittal plane is an imaginary vertical slice that divides the body into left and right portions, as shown by the shaded halves.

Front

Midsagittal Plane Noun

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[mid-saj-i-tl pleyn]

Back

Midsagittal Plane

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A sagittal plane along the body's midline, dividing it into two equal right and left sides.

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Example: This diagram shows the Midsagittal Plane, a vertical line dividing the body into equal right and left halves, distinguishing it from other sagittal planes.

Front

Coronal Plane Noun

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[kuh-roh-nl pleyn]

Back

Coronal Plane

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A vertical plane running side to side, dividing the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

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Example: This diagram shows the Coronal Plane, a vertical slice that divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) sections.

Front

Transverse Plane Noun

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[tranz-vurs pleyn]

Back

Transverse Plane

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A horizontal plane dividing the body or its parts into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) sections.

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Example: This diagram shows the transverse plane, an imaginary horizontal line that divides the body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) sections.

Front

Anterior Adjective

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[an-teer-ee-er]

Back

Anterior

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Describes a position at or near the front of the body; also referred to as the ventral side.

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Example: This diagram shows a side view of the human body, with an arrow pointing forward to illustrate that 'anterior' means toward the front.

Front

Posterior Adjective

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[po-steer-ee-er]

Back

Posterior

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Describes a position at or near the back of the body; also referred to as the dorsal side.

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Example: This image shows the posterior, or back view, of the human body, illustrating the muscles located on the back of the torso and neck.

Front

Superior Adjective

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[soo-peer-ee-er]

Back

Superior

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Describes a position toward the head or the upper part of a structure or the body as a whole.

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Example: This diagram shows that in anatomy, 'superior' refers to the direction toward the head or the upper part of a structure, as indicated by the upward arrow.

Front

Inferior Adjective

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[in-feer-ee-er]

Back

Inferior

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Describes a position away from the head or toward the lower part of a structure or the body.

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Example: This diagram shows that in anatomy, 'inferior' is a directional term meaning towards the feet or a lower part of the body.

Front

Medial Adjective

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[mee-dee-ul]

Back

Medial

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Describes a position closer to the midline, an imaginary vertical line dividing the body into equal halves.

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Example: This diagram shows that 'medial' means toward the midline of the body, as indicated by the arrows pointing inward from the shoulders.

Front

Lateral Adjective

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[lat-er-ul]

Back

Lateral

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Describes a position farther away from the midline of the body, toward the sides of the body.

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Example: The term 'lateral' describes a position farther from the body's midline. The arrow shows movement away from the center of the torso.