Anatomical Directions - Key Notes

DIRECTION OR POSITION	EXPLANATION
Caudal	Towards the tail. Never used in lower limb descriptions.
Caudo-cranial (Cd.Cr)	Tail to head (rear to front).
Cranial	Towards the head. Never used in lower limb descriptions. Nor when describing the head - oral or rostral are correct.
Cranio-caudal (Cr.Cd)	Head to tail (front to rear).
Distal	Away from the body; a term used in limb descriptions.
Dorsal	Term relating to the back or posterior part of an animal. A patient in dorsal recumbency is lying on its back.
Dorso-palmar (D.Pa)	Describes view of the lower fore limb (beyond the radiocarpal joint); front of lower limb to rear of lower limb, ie. the lower forelimb is placed palmar side down on the x-ray cassette.
Dorso-plantar (D.Pl)	Describes view of the lower hind limb (beyond the tibiotarsal joint); front of lower limb to rear of lower limb, ie. the lower hind limb is placed plantar side down on the x-ray cassette.
Dorso-ventral (DV)	Back to front. A patient positioned for DV x-rays will be lying abdomen face down; ie. in ventral recumbency.
Extended view	Describes a joint in extension; ie. distal limb directed away from the body.
Flexed view	Describes a joint in flexion; ie. distal limb directed towards the body.
Frog legged view	The patient lies in dorsal recumbency (VD position) with the hind limbs flexed and allowed to fall to either side. This view may be used to radiograph the pelvis although it is not as diagnostic as an extended view.
Intra oral view	Within the oral cavity. Non-screen film may be placed within the mouth in order to radiograph the jaws, nasal chambers or teeth.
Lateral	Sideways; an animal in lateral recumbency will be lying on its side. (Right lateral recumbency means that the right side is down on the table).
Oblique view	An angled view. The skull may be positioned obliquely in order to obtain good radiographs of the tympanic bullae and temporo-mandibular joints.
Occlusal view	A closed view; usually refers to closed mouth intra-oral radiographs.
Palmar	The rear of the lower forelimb.
Palmaro-dorsal (Pa.D)	Back to front; referring to the forelimb beyond the radiocarpal joint.
Plantar	The rear of the lower hindlimb.
Plantaro-dorsal (Pl.D)	Back to front; referring to the hindlimb beyond the tibiotarsal joint.
Posterior-anterior (PA)	Bottom up.
Proximal	Directed towards the body; a term used in limb descriptions.
Rostral	Directed towards the nose.
Rostro-caudal (R.Ca)	Nose to tail. A rostro-caudal view (with the patient's head positioned nose upwards and the back of the head on the xray cassette) is suitable for radiography of the frontal sinuses.
Sternal	Term relating to the chest; a patient in sternal recumbency will be lying chest down.
Supine	Lying on the back; ie. dorsal recumbency.
Ventral	Term relating to the abdomen; a patient in ventral recumbency will be lying on its abdomen.
Ventro-dorsal (VD)	Abdomen to back; ie. front to back.

Anatomical Directions - Key Notes

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