Directional Terms Flashcards
Anatomical Position
standing upright, palms facing forward
Prone
face-down
Supine
face-up
Superior or cranial
toward the head end of the body; upper (example, the hand is part of the superior extremity)
Inferior or caudal
away from the head; lower (example, the foot is part of the inferior extremity)
Anterior
front (example, the kneecap is located on the anterior side of the leg)
Posterior
back (example, the shoulder blades are located on the posterior side of the body)
Medial
toward the midline of the body (example, the big toe is located at the medial side of the foot)
Lateral
away from the midline of the body (example, the little toe is located at the lateral side of the foot)
Proximal
toward or nearest the trunk or the point of origin of a part (example, the proximal end of the femur joins with the pelvic bone)
Distal
away from or farthest from the trunk or the point or origin of a part (example, the hand is located at the distal end of the forearm)
Superficial
towards the surface
Deep
away from the surface
Transverse Plane (Horizontal Plane)
Lower half separated from top half of body (horizontal)
Sagittal Plane (Median Plane)
Left side separated from right side of body (vertical)