Directional Terms

Question 1

Cranial / Cephalic

Answer 1

Definition: Relating to the skull or head; toward the head. (This is a more flexible term than superior because it can be applied to all animals, whether they stand upright on two limbs or on all fours.)

Example: The stomach is more cranial than the urinary bladder.

Question 2

Inferior

Answer 2

Definition: Below or lower in position; toward the feet. (Not used in reference to the limbs.)

Example: The stomach is inferior to the lungs.

Question 3

Rostral

Answer 3

Definition: Relating to the nose and mouth region; toward the face.

Example: The frontal lobe of the brain is rostral to the occipital lobe.

Question 4

Caudal

Answer 4

Definition: Relating to the tail; at or near the tail or posterior part of the body.

Example: The lumbar vertebrae are caudal to the cervical vertebrae.

Question 5

Anterior

Answer 5

Definition: Nearer to or at the front of the body.

Example: The sternum (breastbone) is anterior to the heart.

Question 6

Posterior

Answer 6

Definition: Nearer to or at the back of the body.

Example: The esophagus (food tube) is posterior to the trachea (windpipe).

Question 7

Ventral

Answer 7

Definition: Relating to the belly side of the body; toward the belly. (Used synonymously with anterior in human anatomy.)

Example: The intestines are ventral to the vertebral column.

Question 8

Dorsal

Answer 8

Definition: Relating to the back side of the body; toward the back. (Used synonymously with posterior in human anatomy.)

Example: The kidneys are dorsal to the stomach.

Question 9

Medial

Answer 9

Definition: Nearer to the midline (an imaginary vertical line that divides the body into equal right and left sides).

Example: The ulna is medial to the radius.

Question 10

Lateral

Answer 10

Definition: Farther from the midline.

Example: The lungs are lateral to the heart.

Question 11

Intermediate

Answer 11

Definition: Between two structures.

Example: The transverse colon is intermediate to the ascending colon and descending colon.

Question 12

Ipsilateral

Answer 12

Definition: On the same side of the body’s midline as another structure.

Example: The gallbladder and ascending colon are ipsilateral.

Question 13

Contralateral

Answer 13

Definition: On the opposite side of the body’s midline from another structure.

Example: The ascending and descending colons are contralateral.

Question 14

Proximal

Answer 14

Definition: Nearer to the attachment of a limb to the trunk; nearer to the origination of a structure.

Example: The humerus (arm bone) is proximal to the radius.

Question 15

Distal

Answer 15

Definition: Farther from the attachment of a limb to the trunk; farther from the origination of a structure.

Example: The phalanges (finger bones) are distal to the carpals (wrist bones).

Question 16

Superficial

Answer 16

Definition: Toward or on the surface of the body.

Example: The ribs are superficial to the lungs.

Question 17

Deep

Answer 17

Definition: Away from the surface of the body.

Example: The ribs are deep to the skin of the chest and back.

Question 18

External

Answer 18

Definition: Toward the outside of a structure. (Is typically used when describing relationships of individual organs.)

Example: The visceral pleura is on the external surface of the lungs.

Question 19

Internal

Answer 19

Definition: Toward the inside of a structure. (Is typically used when describing relationships of individual organs.)

Example: The mucosa forms the internal lining of the stomach.

Question 20

Superior

Answer 20

Definition: Above or higher in position; toward the head. (Not used in reference to limbs.)

Example: The heart is superior to the liver.