Terms of Location Flashcards
Anterior
Toward the front of the body
Posterior
Toward the back of the body
Median
Located on the midline of the torso or limbs
Lateral
Toward the side of the body, away from the middle
Medial
Toward the middle of the body, away from the side
Inferior
Toward the bottom, below
Superior
Toward the top, above
Distal
Situated away from the center of the body or from the point of attachment
Proximal
Situated nearer to the center of the body or the point of attachment
Superficial
Visible on the surface
Deep
Not visible on the surface, covered with something else
Subcutaneous
Just below the skin, specifically referring to the bony landmarks
Origin (of a muscle)
Where the muscle attaches to a part of the body that doesn’t move, or moves very little
Insertion (of a muscle)
Where the muscle attaches to a part of the body that will move when the muscle pulls