transverse plane divides a body into superior and inferior portions anterior means toward the front of the body posterior means toward the back of the body superior means toward the head inferior means toward the feet medial means toward the midline of the body lateral means away from the midline of the body axial means toward a central axis of the body abaxial means away from a central axis of the body referring to fig1 an embodiment of a locking mechanism is shown in the context of a system for spinal surgery an inserter tool 10 is shown connected to a trial implant 60 by means of a connection mechanism 8 the trial 60 includes a mock implant body portion 61 which may be positioned within an intervertebral disc space in order to determine the proper size for a spinal implant not shown for permanent implantation the tool 10 includes a handle 11 the tool 10 is used to hold and manipulate the trial 60 as the trial 60 is inserted into the intervertebral disc space the connection mechanism 8 between the trial 60 and the tool 10 may have cooperating features on the trial 60 and the tool 10 which releasably couple the trial 60 and the tool 10 the connection mechanism 8 may be subjected to service loads which are oriented with respect to one or more of three mutually.