Page 19 - Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, 8th Edition

4 / Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals

lexicon that describes locations and direc- plane passing through the body so as to
The median plane is an imaginary
tions within the body has been developed.
VetBooks.ir Since the body is mobile, the frames of divide the body into equal right and left
halves. A beef carcass is split into two
reference must apply regardless of the posi-
tion or direction of the animal (Fig. 1‐1). halves on the median plane.
Directional terminology in animal anatomy A sagittal plane is any plane parallel to
differs from that in human anatomy because the median plane. The median plane is
of the orientation of bipedal versus quadru- sometimes called the midsagittal plane.
pedal stance. The student of animal anatomy Sagittal planes other than the median plane
will see that the terms anterior, posterior, are frequently referred to as paramedian
superior, and inferior are not used except planes.
in two specific body regions: the eyes and A transverse plane is at right angles to
teeth (see Chapters 12 and 20). the median plane and divides the body into
Cranial is a directional term meaning cranial and caudal segments. A cross‐section
toward the head. The shoulder is cranial of the body would be made on a transverse
to the hip; it is closer to the head than is plane. The cinch of a saddle defines a trans-
the hip. verse plane through the thorax of a horse.
Caudal means toward the tail. The rump A horizontal plane is at right angles
is caudal to the loin. to both the median plane and transverse
Rostral and caudal are directional planes. The horizontal plane divides the
terms used in reference to features of the body into dorsal (upper) and ventral
head to mean toward the nose (rostral) or (lower) segments. If a cow walks into a lake
toward the tail (caudal). until the water comes above the chest, the

Caudal Cranial Rostral
Dorsal Ventral

Axial
Abaxial

Caudal Cranial Ventral Caudal Cranial Medial
Proximal
Plantar Dorsal Palmar Dorsal Median plane
Distal Lateral
Median plane

Transverse plane
Transverse plane
Transverse plane
Transverse plane

Horizontal plane

Figure 1-1. Directional terms and planes of the animal body.