Location terminology

Question 1

superior

Answer 1

a position above a point of reference (body)

Question 2

inferior

Answer 2

a position below a point of reference (body)

Question 3

proximal

Answer 3

position near the near the center of your body

ie: your knee joint is more proximal to your hip joint than your ankle joint

Question 4

distal

Answer 4

position that is farther away form the center of your body

ie: your ankle is more distal to your hips than your knees are

Question 5

anterior (ventral)

Answer 5

refers to the front of your body

ie: location of the chest is anterior

Question 6

posterior (dorsal)

Answer 6

refers to the back of the body

ie: back and hamstrings

Question 7

medial

Answer 7

close to the midline of the body

ie: adductors are closer to the medial part of the body than the abductors

Question 8

lateral

Answer 8

positioned on the outside of the body

ie: the ears are positioned on the lateral side of the head

Question 9

contralateral

Answer 9

located on the opposite side of the body

ie: your left foot is contralateral to your right hand

Question 10

ipsilateral

Answer 10

parts of the body that are located on the same side of each other
ie: right and and right foot are ipsilateral to each other