Overview
This lecture explains important directional terms and anatomical planes commonly used in neuroscience to describe positions and sections of the brain and spinal cord.
Basic Directional Terms
- Superior refers to the top of the head.
- Inferior means towards the feet.
- Anterior indicates the front of the body or brain.
- Posterior indicates the back of the body or brain.
Terms That Change Based on Location
- Dorsal means the back in the spinal cord, but the top of the brain above the brainstem-diencephalon junction.
- Ventral means the abdominal region in the spinal cord, but the bottom of the brain above the brainstem-diencephalon junction.
- Rostral means towards the nose in the brain and towards the head in the spinal cord.
- Caudal means towards the tail in the brain and towards the end of the spinal cord.
Anatomical Planes of the Brain
- Sagittal plane divides the brain into left and right halves.
- Horizontal (transverse) plane slices the brain perpendicular to the body’s long axis.
- Coronal (frontal) plane slices are parallel to the body’s long axis.
Terms for Position Relative to Midline
- Medial means closer to the midline of the brain or spinal cord.
- Lateral means closer to the sides of the brain or spinal cord.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Superior — towards the top of the head
- Inferior — towards the feet
- Anterior — towards the front of the body or brain
- Posterior — towards the back of the body or brain
- Dorsal — back (spinal cord) or top (brain)
- Ventral — abdominal side (spinal cord) or bottom (brain)
- Rostral — towards the nose (brain) or head (spinal cord)
- Caudal — towards the tail (brain) or end of the spinal cord
- Sagittal plane — divides brain into right and left halves
- Horizontal (Transverse) plane — slices brain perpendicular to body’s long axis
- Coronal (Frontal) plane — slices parallel to body’s long axis
- Medial — closer to the midline
- Lateral — closer to the sides
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review directional terms and anatomical planes before the next lecture.