Planes Of Reference And Spatial Relationships

Front 1

ante-

Back 1

situated before of in front of

Front 2

anterior/ventral

Back 2

situated closer to the front of the body

Front 3

anteroposterior

Back 3

Situated in an anterior-to-posterior (front-to-back) plane

Front 4

anti

Back 4

situated against of on the opposite side of

Front 5

bilateral

Back 5

pertaining to both sides of the body or an anatomical structure

Front 6

caudal

Back 6

one structure is situated closer to the tail than another structure

Front 7

deep

Back 7

Situated further away from body surface

Front 8

distal

Back 8

situated away from center of body (disto)

Front 9

dorsal

Back 9

pertaining to the back

Front 10

dorsi

Back 10

toward the dorsal

Front 11

ecto

Back 11

outer/ on the outside

Front 12

endo

Back 12

inner/inside

Front 13

ento

Back 13

inner/within

Front 14

epi

Back 14

situated upon, following, or subsequent to

Front 15

external

Back 15

situated on the outside

Front 16

extra

Back 16

situated to the outside

Front 17

extrinsic

Back 17

external coming from the outside

Front 18

frontal

Back 18

situated in the front

Front 19

hypo

Back 19

situated below

Front 20

inferior

Back 20

situated below or in a downward position

Front 21

infra

Back 21

situated below

Front 22

inter

Back 22

situated between

Front 23

internal

Back 23

situated on the inside

Front 24

intra

Back 24

situated within or inside

Front 25

intrinsic

Back 25

internal or completely within

Front 26

ipsi

Back 26

pertaining to the same side

Front 27

lateral

Back 27

situated on the side

Front 28

longitudinal

Back 28

situated lengthwise

Front 29

medial

Back 29

situated toward the middle

Front 30

mes, mesio, meso

Back 30

situated in the middle

Front 31

mesial

Back 31

toward the median

Front 32

met, meta

Back 32

after, behind, or hindmost

Front 33

midsagittal

Back 33

vertical plane of reference through the midline of the body, dividing the body into left and right halves

Front 34

oblique

Back 34

situated in a slanting or diagonal direction

Front 35

palmar

Back 35

relating to palm of hand

Front 36

para

Back 36

adjacent, alongside, or near

Front 37

peri

Back 37

around, about, or near

Front 38

peripheral

Back 38

pertaining to the periphery

Front 39

plantar

Back 39

relating to the sole of foot

Front 40

post

Back 40

after, behind, posterior

Front 41

posterior

Back 41

structure situated closer to back of body

Front 42

pre

Back 42

before, in front of, or anterior to

Front 43

prone

Back 43

body lying face down

Front 44

proximal

Back 44

situated toward center of body

Front 45

rectus

Back 45

straight

Front 46

retro

Back 46

situated behind or in backward direction

Front 47

rostral

Back 47

one structure is closer to the head then another structure

Front 48

sagittal

Back 48

vertical plane of reference divides body into left and right parts

Front 49

sub

Back 49

situated beneath

Front 50

superficial

Back 50

one structure is situated closer to the head than another

Front 51

superior

Back 51

situated above or in an upward direction

Front 52

supine

Back 52

body lying face up

Front 53

supra

Back 53

situated above

Front 54

transverse

Back 54

horizontal plane of reference that divides the body structure into upper and lower parts

Front 55

unilateral

Back 55

pertaining to one side of the body

Front 56

ventral

Back 56

pertaining to the front or belly

Front 57

version

Back 57

deviation of a body part from its normal axis