Directional Terms Flashcards
List the directional terms that describe the relative locations of different body structures
Anterior (ventral)
Posterior (Dorsal)
Superior (cranial)
Inferior (Caudal)
Lateral
Medial
Distal
Superficial
Deep
Describe the directional term anterior (ventral)
The front of the body or towards the front of the body
ex: The toes are anterior to the foot
Posterior (dorsal) is used to describe which direction of the body?
The back of the body or direction toward the back of the body
Superior (cranial) refers to which direction?
Position above or higher than another part of the body
Ex: The orbits are superior to the oris
Inferior (caudal) used to describe which direction?
Position below or lower than another body part
Near or toward the tail (in humans, the coccyx)
Ex: The pelvis is inferior to the abdomen
Lateral describes which direction
The position toward the side of the body
Ex: The pollex (thumb) is lateral to the digits
Medial is used to describe which direction?
The middle or direction towards the middle of the body
Proximal is used to describe structures that are?
positioned in a limb that is nearer to the point of attachment or the trunk of the body
Ex: The brachium is attached to the antebrachium.
Distal is used to describe which point?
Structures that are positioned in a limb that is farthest from the point of attachment or the trunk of the body.
Ex: the hand is distal from the shoulder.
Superficial is the term used to describe structures that are found.
Structures that are found within the surface of the body
Ex: The dermis is superficial to the epidermis
Deep is used to describe the position of which structures?
The position that is farther from the surface of the body.
