zoology

• Mammals are a group of vertebrates that have hair or fur, produce milk for their young, and have specialized teeth.
• Descriptive Terms:

  • Dorsal: The back or upper side (posterior in human anatomy)
  • Ventral: The under side (anterior in human anatomy)
  • Lateral: The sides; right and left, or towards the side
  • Anterior: Towards the head of the animal (superior in human anatomy)
  • Median: The middle or towards the middle
  • Central: The part of a system nearest the middle of an animal
  • Peripheral: The part nearest the surface
  • Proximal: Near the main mass of the body, as the thigh compared to the knee
  • Distal: Away from the main mass of the body, as the toes compared to the knee
• • Superficial: On or near the surface
  • Deep: Some distance below the surface
  • Superior: Above
  • Inferior: Below Posterior or caudal, towards the tail (inferior in human)
  • Buccal/Oral: Pertaining to the mouth
  • Aboral: Pertaining to the region not bearing the mouth; opposite the mouth
• Planes and Axes:

  • Median plane: A vertical longitudinal plane passing from head to tail through the center of the body from dorsal to ventral surface, dividing the body into two nearly identical halves, right and left
  • Sagittal plane or section: Any vertical longitudinal plane through the body, including the median plane or any plane parallel to it. Other sagittal planes are sometimes designated as parasagittal
  • Horizontal or Frontal plane or section: Any horizontal longitudinal section through the body, at right angles to the median plane and parallel to the dorsal and ventral surfaces
• • Transverse or Cross plane or section: Cuts vertically across the body at right angles to the sagittal and horizontal planes
  • Longitudinal or Anteroposterior Axis: A line in the median sagittal plane extending from head to tail; sagittal or dorsoventral axis is any line in the median sagittal plane extending from dorsal to ventral surfaces; transverse or mediolateral axis is any line in the transverse plane running from side to side