Directional terms Flashcards
Above; towards the head or upper part of the structure.
Superior – cranial
Example; the skull is superior to a breast bone.
Below; away from the head or lower part of a structure.
Inferior-caudal
Example; the stomach is inferior to the lungs
Front; near two or at the front of the body
Anterior – ventral
Example; sternum is anterior to the heart.
Back; near to or at the back of the body.
Posterior – dorsal
Example; the spine is posterior to the sternum.
Near to the midline
Medial
Example; the sternum is medial to the arms.
Farther from the midline
Lateral
Example; the arms are lateral to the bone.
Nearer to; if a limb, nearer to the point of attachment.
Proximal
Example; the elbow is proximal to the wrist.
Farther; if a limb, farther from the point of attachment.
Distal
Example; the ankle is distal to the thigh.
Toward or on the surface of the body
Superficial – external
Example; the skin is superficial to bone.
Away from the surface of the body.
Deep – internal
Examples; bone is deep to the skin
On the same side of the body as another structure.
Ipsilateral
Example; the liver is ipsilateral to the ascending colon.
On the opposite side of the body from another structure.
Contralateral
Example; the liver is contralateral to the descending colon
