directional and positional terms Flashcards
Ventral
- refers to the belly or the underside of a body or body part
- includes head, neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and tail
Dorsal
- refers to the back
- includes head, neck, thorax, abdomen, and tail
Cranial
- towards the head or pertaining to the head
Caudal
towards the tail
Anterior
towards the front of the body, referring to the limbs
posterior
towards the back of the body, referring to the limbs
rostral
pertaining to the nose end of the head
midline
aka median or midsagittal
imaginary line that divides the body into EQUAL right and left halves
Medial
pertaining to the MIDDLE or towards the midline
lateral
pertaining to the SIDE or AWAY from the midline
Superior
UPPERMOST; ABOVE
Inferior
LOWERMOST; below
Adjacent
NEXT TO, close to, or adjoining
proximal
closer to the midline of the body, pertaining to another point
near the center of the body relative to another point
Distal
Away from the midline of the body
Away from the center of the body relative to another point
Oblique
at an angle
Superficial/external
near the surface