Anatomical Planes & Axes
Anatomical terminology
If you want to describe the location of different anatomical
structures easily, you need to know the anatomical axes
and planes.
There are four axes and four corresponding planes:
• The sagittal axis and its corresponding sagittal plane divide the body into right and left parts.
Sagittal plane
(planum sagittale)
• The frontal (or coronal) axis and the corresponding frontal plane divide the body into anterior and posterior parts.
Frontal plane
(planum frontale / planum coronale)
The transverse (or horizontal) axis and the corresponding transverse plane divide the body into upper and lower
parts.
Transverse plane
(planum horizontale / transversum)
• And the median (or mid-saggital) line, and the corresponding median plane, divide the body into two equal
halves.
Median plane
(planum medianum)
Also, we use several specialized terms to describe anatomical structures.
In relation to the median line in the frontal plane, a particular structure may have the characteristic “medial”, which
means closer to the median line, and “lateral”, which is,
further from the median line
Medial
(medialis)
Lateral
(lateralis)
In relation to the median line in the sagittal plane, our organs may have the characteristics of “ventral” and “dorsal”. Actually, “ventral” means closer to the abdomen, and
“dorsal” means closer to the back.
Ventral
(ventralis)
Dorsal
(dorsalis)
And in relation to the horizontal or transverse plane, certain structures may have the characteristics of “superior”
and “inferior” (lower). Basically, they are applied to some
paired structures.
Superior
(superior)
Inferior
(inferior)
For example, the superior vena cava and inferior vena cava.
You can also encounter the terms “cranial” and “caudal”.
This is basically the same as the upper and lower. “Cranially” means closer to the cranium, and “caudally” means
closer to the so-called “tail”, or lower part of the body.
And the last pair of terms is “proximal” and “distal”. They
show the relation of the particular part of the body to its
origin. “Proximally” means closer to the origin, and “distally” means closer to the end.
Proximal
(proximalis)
Distal
(distalis)
Basically, these terms are used to describe parts of the
limbs. For example, the shoulder is located proximally to
the hand, and the hand is located distally to the shoulder.
Recommended video
Atlas
Anatomical terminology:
Anatomical Planes & Axes
sagittal plane
planum sagittale
frontal plane
planum frontale /
planum coronale
transverse plane
planum horizontale /
planum transversum
median plane
planum medianum
medial
medialis
lateral
lateralis
ventral
ventralis
dorsal
dorsalis
superior
superior
inferior
inferior
cranial
cranialis
caudal
caudalis
proximal
proximalis
distal
distalis
This PDF note
is part of the learning course
of the Easy Anatomy mobile app