Body orientation

Superior/inferior

Above/below These terms refer to the location of a structure along the long axis of the body. Superior structures appear above other structures, and inferior structures are always below other body parts.

Dorsal/ventral

Backside/belly side. Meaning "back", the term dorsal refers to the animal's back or the backside of any other structures. The term ventral, meaning "belly", always refers to the belly side of animals. In humans, the term ventral and dorsal are used interchangeably with anterior and posterior, but in four legged animals, ventral and dorsal are synonymous with inferior and superior.

Anterior/posterior

Front/back. In humans, the most anterior structures are those that are most forward--the face, chest, abdomen. Posterior structures are those toward the backside of the body.

Proximal/distal

Nearer the trunk or attached end/farther from the trunk or point of attachment. These terms locate various areas along the body limbs or an elongated organ, such as the intestine. For example, the fingers are distal to the elbow; the knee is proximal to the toes. Note: the terms proximal and distal would not be used to describe the relationship between two structures in the torso.

Superficial/deep

Toward or at the body surface/away from the body surface or more internal. These terms locate body organs according to their relative closeness to the body surface. For example, the skin is superficial to the skeletal muscles.

Cephalad/caudal

Toward the head/toward the tail. In humans, these terms are used interchangeably with superior and inferior. But in four legged animals, they are synonyms or anterior and posterior.

Medial/lateral

Toward the midline/away from the midline or median plane. Medial structures are closer to the body midline (which is the spine in humans). Later structures are father away from the midline.