Anatomical Terminology Flashcards
Superior
Toward the head or the upper part of a structure (also cephalic or cranial).
Inferior
Towards the feet or the lower part of a structure (caudal).
Anterior (Ventral)
Towards the front
Posterior (Dorsal)
Towards the back
Medial
Nearer to the midline of the body or structure).
Midline
An imaginary vertical line that divides the body into equal left and right sides.
Lateral
Farther from the midline of the body or a structure.
Ipsilateral
On the same side of the body as another structure
Contralateral
On the opposite side of the body from another structure
Intermediate
Between two structures
Superficial
Near the surface
Deep
Away from the surface
Central
At the center of the body or an organ
Peripheral
Away from the center of the body or an organ (can also mead near the surface, e.g. peripheral blood vessels or nerves).
Proximal
Describes a limb bone that is closer to the point of attachment to the trunk.