Directional Terminolgy

Front 1

Median plane

Back 1

Origin - L. 'medius' middle

Divides te head, body, or limb into equal right and left halves.

Front 2

Sagittal plane

Back 2

Origin - L. 'sagitta' arrow

Passes through the head, body, or limb parallel to the median plane.

Front 3

Dorsal plane

Back 3

Origin - L. 'dorsa' back

Runs at right angles to the median and transverse planes. Divides the body or head into dorsal and ventral portions.

Front 4

Transverse plane

Back 4

Transects the head, body, or limb perpendicular to its own long axis

Front 5

Dorsal

Back 5

Refers to the "top" of the head, back, and tail. Describes the "front" or "top" surface of the foot from the carpus or the tarsus distally (to the toes).

Front 6

Ventral

Back 6

The "underside" of the head, trunk, and tail (toward the belly).

Front 7

Lateral

Back 7

Origin - L. 'latus' side

Direction toward the side of the trunk, head, or limb (away from the median plane).

Front 8

Medial

Back 8

Direction toward the median plane.

Front 9

Cranial

Back 9

Origin - L. 'cranium' head

Toward the head. Describes the "front" surfaces of limbs to the carpus and tarsus.

Front 10

Caudal

Back 10

Origin - L. 'cauda' tail

Toward the tail. Describes "back" surfaces of the limbs to the carpus and tarsus.

Front 11

Rostral

Back 11

Origin - L. 'rostrum' beak

Used only in the head region. Meaning toward the nose.

Front 12

Internal

(Medial)

Back 12

Origin - L. 'internus' inside or inner

Toward teh center of an organ, body cavity, or structure.

Front 13

External

(Lateral)

Back 13

Origin - L. 'exernus' outside or outer

Away from the center of an organ or structure.

Front 14

Deep

Back 14

Toward the center of the body or the center of a solid organ.

Front 15

Superficial

Back 15

Toward the surface of the body or the surface of a solid organ.

Front 16

Proximal

Back 16

Origin - L. 'proximus' next to

Closer to the main body mass.

Front 17

Distal

Back 17

Origin - L. 'distans' distant

Farther away from the main body mass.

Front 18

Palmar

Back 18

Origin - L. 'palma' palm

The "bottom" of the front feet to the level of the carpus.

Front 19

Plantar

Back 19

Origin - L. 'plans' sole of foot

The "bottom" of the hind feet to the level of the tarsus.

Front 20

Axis

Back 20

The central line of the body or one of its parts. The axis of the limb runs between the third and fourth digits.

Front 21

Axial

Back 21

Toward the axis.

Front 22

Abaxial

Back 22

Origin - L. 'ab' from, off, away from

Away from the axis.

Front 23

Flexion

Back 23

Origin - L. 'flexus' bent

The act of bending or condition of being bent. Movement of a joint causing reduction in the angle of the joint.

Front 24

Extension

Back 24

Origin - L. 'ex tendere' to stretch out

Movement by which the two ends of any joited part are drawn away from each other. Movement which brings the members of a limb into or toward a straight condition. Movement of a joint causing an increase in the angle of the joint. Extension beyond 180 degrees is overextension.

Front 25

Abduct

Back 25

Origin - L. 'abducere' to lead away

To draw away from the median plane or (in the digits) from the axis of the limb.

Front 26

Adduct

Back 26

Origin - L. 'adducere' to draw toward

To draw toward the median plane or (in the digits) toward the axis of the limb.

Front 27

Circumduction

Back 27

Origin - L. 'circumducere' to draw toward

Circular movement of a limb or of the eye.

Front 28

Rotation

Back 28

Origin - L. 'rotatio' a turning

The movement of a part on its long axis.

Front 29

Supination

Back 29

Origin - L. 'supinus' lying on the back, face upward

Lateral rotation of the limbs causing the palmer or plantar surface of the paw to face medially

Front 30

Pronation

Back 30

Origin - L. 'pornus' inclined forward

Medial rotation of the limb causing the palmar or plantar surface to face laterally.

Front 31

Anterior

Back 31

Origin - L. 'ante' before

Toward the front. In veterinary medicine, mostly used in reference to the eye and other parts of the head.

Front 32

Posterior

Back 32

Origin - L. 'posterus' behind

Toward the back. In veterinary medicine, mostly used in reference to the eye and other parts of the head.

Front 33

Superior

Back 33

Origin - L. 'super' upper

Up. In veterinary medicine, used in reference to the eyes and mouth.

Front 34

Inferior

Back 34

Origin - L. 'inferus' lower

Down. In veterinary medicine, used in reference to the eyes and mouth.