Question

Using the example of a cat, what is the direction toward the head? toward the midline? toward the abdominal surface? the area supporting the forelegs?

Answer 1

Answer:

Many terms for direction are the same in comparative and human anatomy, but there are certain differences occaisioned by our upright posture. A structure tpwards the head end of a quadruped is described as cranial (or cephalad); one toward the tail, as caudal. A structure toward the back of a quadruped is dorsal, one toward the belly is ventral.

Other terms for direction are used in the same way in all animals. Lateral refers to the side of the body; medial to a position toward the midline. Median is used for a structure in the middle. Distal refers to a part of some organ, such as appendage, that is farthest removed from the point of reference, such as the appendage's point of attachment; proximal is the point nearest to the point of reference. A superficial structure lies upon another one and closer to the body surface, a deep one lies beneath others and farther from the body surface. Left and right are self-evident,but it should be emphasized that in anatomical directions, they always pertain to the specimen's left or right, regardless of the way the specimen is viewed by the observer.

The body of a specimen is frequently cut in various planes to obtain views of internal organs. A longitudinal, vertical section from dorsal to ventral that passes through the median longitudinal axis of the body is a sagital section. Such a section lies in the sagital plane.

A section cut across the body from dorsal to ventral, and a right angles to the longitudinal axis, is a transverse section, and it lies in the transverse plane. A frontal (coronal) section or plane is one lying in the longitudinal axis, and passing horizontally from side to side.