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Planes & Orientation
Terms & definitions of directions on the human body using the anatomic position.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| proximal | closer to the center |
| distal | farther away from the center |
| lateral | out to the side |
| medial | toward the middle |
| ventral/antral/anterior | the front |
| dorsal/posterior | the back |
| cranial | toward the top |
| caudal | toward the bottom |
| superior | above |
| inferior | below |
| prone | lying down on belly |
| supine | lying down on back |
| contralateral | opposite side |
| ipsilateral | same side |
| unilateral | one side |
| bilateral | both sides |
| dorsum | the top of the hand or foot |
| plantar | the sole of the foot |
| palmar | the palm of the hand |