Chapter 4

Directions of the Brain

Figure: Side and Frontal
views of alligator and
human, showing the
terms used to denote
anatomical directions
 Directions
• Neuraxis –An imaginary line drawn through the centre of the length of
the central nervous system, from the bottom of the spinal cord to the
front of the forebrain. Anatomical Directions are relative to the neuraxis.
• Midline of the brain - An imaginary line that runs down the center of the
brain, dividing the brain into right and left halves.
• Anterior - With respect to the CNS, refers to the front of the body or
brain.
• Posterior – With respect to the CNS, refers to the back of the body or
brain
• Rostral – ‘Toward the beak’ or nose, w.r.t the CNS, in a direction along the
neuraxis toward the front of the face. At the level of the spinal cord,
rostral indicates the direction that points upwards towards the head.
Above the junction of the brainstem and diencephalon, however, the
term directs more specifically towards the nose.
• Caudal - ‘Toward the tail’ , w.r.t the CNS, in a direction along the neuraxis
away from the front of the face. At the level of the spinal cord, caudal
indicates the direction that points down towards the feet. Above the
junction of the brainstem and diencephalon, however, the term directs
more specifically towards the back of the brain.
 Directions
• Dorsal – ‘Toward the back’ w.r.t the CNS, in a direction perpendicular
to the neuraxis toward the top of the head or the back. Dorsal refers
to the back when discussing the spinal cord. However, above the
junction of the midbrain and diencephalon, dorsal refers instead to
the upper or superior portion of the brain.
• Ventral – ‘Toward the belly’ w.r.t the CNS, in a direction
perpendicular to the neuraxis toward the bottom of the head or the
back. When used in reference to the nervous system, ventral refers
to the front when discussing the spinal cord. However, above the
junction of the midbrain and diencephalon, ventral refers instead to
the lower or inferior portion of the brain.
• Lateral – Toward the side of the body, away from the middle
(midline) of the brain or spinal cord.
• Medial – Away from the side of the body, toward the middle
(midline) of the brain or spinal cord.
• Ipsilateral - Located on the same side of the body
• Contralateral – Located on the opposite side of the body
 Directions
• Superior – Pertaining to a point above a given reference point.
Directional term that refers to the top of the body (i.e. the head) or
the relative position of a structure as being above another and closer
to the top of the head.
• Inferior – Pertaining to a point below a given reference point.
Directional term that refers to the bottom end of the body (i.e. the
feet) or the relative position of a structure as being below another
and closer to the feet.
• Proximal – Proximal means closest to the point of origin or trunk of
the body. Structures that are close to one another.
• Distal – Distal means farthest away from the point of origin or trunk
of the body. Structures far from one another.
• Superficial and Deep - Superficial means toward the body surface,
deep means farthest from the body surface.
AXES AND PLANES OF THE BRAIN
Axes
 AXES
• d: Axial, Superior-inferior or Dorso-ventral
axis (yellow) - Vertical

• l: Left-right, or Lateral axis (blue) – Transverse

• m: Medial, Antero-posterior or Rostral-to-

caudal axis (magenta) – Longitudinal
Planes
 Planes

• a: Axial/ Transverse Plane, containing the lateral

axis and also the medial axis. Parallel to the ground,
giving us horizontal sections. In other words,
transversely giving us cross-sections.
 Planes
• c: Coronal plane, containing the axial axis and the
lateral axis (passing through both the ears). A
coronal plane divides the brain into
an anterior and posterior portion. It is created by
slicing the brain parallel to the long axis of the body,
and thus perpendicular to the floor in a person that
is upright.(Frontal plane/section when referring to
the brain)
 Planes

• s: Sagittal plane, containing the axial axis and the

medial axis i.e., perpendicular to the ground and
parallel to the neuraxis.
– When the sagittal divides the brain into two symmetrical
halves it is known as Midsagittal plane
– p: A Parasagittal plane through one eye; parasagittal
planes comprise the class of planes parallel to (and
therefore lateral to) the sagittal plane
 Planes
• Oblique plane is not shown; it is a slanting or
inclined in direction or course or position;
neither parallel nor perpendicular nor right-
angular plane (at an angle) that lies between
the horizontal and vertical planes.