Directional Terms in Human Anatomy Flashcards
Toward the back or spine
Dorsal
Ex. The vertebral column is dorsal to the aorta
Toward the front* or belly
Ventral
Ex. The aorta is ventral to the vertebral column
Toward the ventral side*
Anterior
Ex. The sternum is anterior to the heart
Toward the dorsal side*
Posterior
Ex. The esophagus is posterior to the trachea
Toward the head or superior end
Cephalic
Ex. The cephalic end of the embryonic neural tube develops into the brain
Toward the forehead or nose
Rostral
Ex. The forbrain is rostral to the brainstem
Toward the tail or inferior end
Caudal
Ex. The spinal cord is caudal to the brain
Above
Superior
Ex. The heart is superior to the diaphragm
Below
Inferior
Ex. The liver is inferior to the diaphragm
Toward the median plane
Medial
Ex. The heart is medial to the lungs.
Away from the median plane
Lateral
Ex. The eyes are lateral to the nose
Close to the point of attachment or origin
Proximal
Ex. The elbow is proximal to the wrist
Farther from the point of attachment or origin
Distal
Ex. The fingernails are at the distal ends of the fingers
On the same side of the body
Ipsilateral
Ex. The liver is ipsilateral to the appendix.
On opposite sides of the body
Contralateral
Ex. The spleen is contralateral to the liver
