Directional Terms Flashcards
Different directional terms
Superior, Inferior, Anterior, Posterior, Medial, lateral, Intermediate, ipsilateral, contralateral, proximal, distal, superficial, and deep
Superior
Toward the head, or the upper part of a structure.
Not used in reference relative positions within the limbs
Ex) the heart is superior to the liver
Inferior
Away from the head, or the lower part of structure. Not used in reference to relative positions within the limbs
Ex) the stomach is inferior to the lungs
Anterior
Near to or at the front of the body
Ex) The sternum is anterior to the heart
Posterior
Nearer to or at the back of the body
Ex) The esophagus (food tube) is posterior to the trachea (windpipe)
Medial
Nearer to the midline (an imaginary longitudinal line that divides the body externally into equal right and left sides)
ex) the ulna is medial the the radius
Lateral
Farther from the midline
Ex) The lungs are lateral the the heart
Intermediate
Between two structures
Ex) the transverse colon is intermediate to the ascending and descending colons
Ipsilateral
On the same side of the body as another structure
Ex) the gall bladder and ascending colon are ipsilateral
Proximal
Opposite of distal
Nearer to the attachment of a limb to the trunk; nearer to the origination of a structure
Ex) The humerus (arm bone) is proximal to the radius
Distal
Opposite of proximal
Farther from the attachment of a limb to the trunk; farther from the originations of a structure
Ex) the phalanges (finger bones) are distal to the carpals (wrist bones)
Superficial
Toward or on the surface of the body
Ex) the ribs are superficial to the lungs
Deep
Away from the surface of the body
Ex) the ribs are deep to the skin of the chest and back
