Anatomical Positions Flashcards
Back view
Posterior
Dorsal
Towards the head
Superior
Cephalad
Towards the feet
Inferior
Caudad
Towards the midline
Medial
Away from the midline
Lateral
The same side
Ipsilateral
(ip-see-LAT-er-al)
The opposite side
Contralateral
(kon-trah-LAT-er-hul)
One side of the body
Unilateral
(you-nee-LAT-er-uhl)
Two sides
Bilateral
On the surface of the body
Superficial
External
Away from the surface area of the body.
Deep
Internal
Near the origin
Proximal
Far from the origin
Distal
Towards the right
Dextrad
(DEKS-trad)
Towards the left
Sinistrad
(SIN-is-trad)
To carry towards the structure
Afferent
(AF-fur-ent)
To carry away from structure
Efferent
(EF-fur-ent)
Laying on ones back
Supine
Laying on ones stomach
Prone
Divides the body into right and left sections
Sagittal plane
Divides body into anterior (front) and posterior (back)
Coronal Plane
Divides body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) sections
Transverse plane
Divides body equally into right and left sections
Midsagittal
