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Slicing Terminology

Directional Terms

directional terminology

	Scientific Term:	What it really means:
	Rostral / Anterior	Head or front end
	Caudal / Posterior	Tail or hind end
	Dorsal	Toward the back
	Ventral	Toward the belly
	Superior	Above the midline
	Inferior	Below the midline
	Lateral	Away from the midline
	Medial	Toward the midline
	Proximal	Closer
	Distal	Farther

In order to explore the brain we first need to understand some vocabulary for describing the positions and locations of various structures in relation to other structures. The table to the right lists some common directional terminology.

Since the brain is three-dimensional, any point or structure in the brain can be identified on three planes: the horizontal plane, the sagittal plane, and the coronal plane. A horizontal section (or slice) of the brain separates the top from the bottom. A sagittal section separates left from right. The midsagittal plane equally divides the left and right hemispheres of the brain. A coronal section of the brain separates the front from the back. The images below show the three planes in which a brain can be sectioned.

In addition, there are four possible views of the brain: lateral, medial, dorsal, and ventral. Lateral is from the side; medial is towards the midline (often from a sagittal section); dorsal is looking from above; and ventral is looking from below.

Horizontal Plane Sagittal Plane Coronal Plane