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Orientational Terminology in Neuroanatomy
ORIENTATIONAL Terminology
Summary
Consistent Orientational Planes
Throughout the nervous system
- Front is always anterior;
- Behind is always posterior;
- Top is always superior;
- Bottom is always inferior.
Sagittal View
The Brain
- The top of the brain is dorsal and the bottom as ventral.
- Dorsal reminds us of the dorsal fin of a shark and ventral reminds us of its underbelly.
- The anterior portion as rostral.
- Rostral means "beak".
- The posterior portion is caudal.
- Caudal means "tail".
The Brainstem
- The brainstem is at a negative 80-degree angle to the cerebral hemisphere, which we learn is due to the cephalic flexure (see the embryogenesis tutorials).
As a result:
- The posterior aspect of the brainstem is dorsal and the anterior aspect is ventral.
- The superior aspect is rostral and the inferior aspect is caudal.
coronal section
- The top of the brain is dorsal (also superior) and the bottom is ventral (also inferior).
- The midline is medial and the periphery is lateral.
- The left-hand side is radiographic right and anatomic left.
- The right-hand side is radiographic left and anatomic right.
Coronal Radiographic vs Anatomic
- In coronal radiographic images, the head is viewed from the front.
- In anatomic sections, the head is viewed from behind.
Axial (aka horizontal or transverse) section
- The top of the page is rostral (also anterior) and the bottom is caudal (also posterior).
- The left-hand side is radiographic right and anatomic left.
- The right-hand side is radiographic left and anatomic right.
Axial Radiographic vs Anatomic
- Radiographic images are viewed as if the subject's feet are coming out at you.
- Anatomic axial sections are viewed as if the subject's head is coming up at you.
Medial vs Lateral
- The center of the cerebrum is medial.
- The periphery is lateral.