Directional Terms

Superior

Above or higher in position; towards the head. (The heart is super to the liver.)

disease

An abnormal state in which the body is not functioning normally

Deep

Away from the surface of the body. (The ribs are deep to the skin of the chest and back).

Inferior

Below or lower in position; toward the feet. (The stomach is inferior to the lungs.)

Lateral

Farther from the midline. (Anything NOT closer to the midline). Ex: ears

Distal

Father from the attachment of a limb to the trunk; father from the origination of a structure. (The phalanges (finger bones) are distal to the carpals (wrist bones).

Posterior

Near to or at the back of the body. (The esophagus (food tube) is posterior to the trachea (windpipe).

Anterior

Nearer to or at the front of the body. (The sternum (breast bone) is anterior to the heart.

Proximal

Nearer to the attachment of a limb to the trunk; nearer to the origination of a structure. (The humerus (arm bone) is proximal to the radius.

Medial

Nearer to the midline. (Anything closer to the midline). Ex: eyes

Dorsal

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

Ventral

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

physiology

The study of body function

anatomy

The study of body structure

Superficial

Toward or on the surface of the body. (The ribs are superficial to the lungs).

Directional Terms

Words that describe the position of one body part relative to another.

Anatomic position

a human being is standing erect, with face forward, arms at the side, and palms forward

coronal (frontal) plane

a plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior sections.

Section

cut made through the body in the direction of a certain plane

Sagital plane

divides body into left and right sections

transverse plane

divides the body into superior and inferior sections.

midsagittal plane

divides the the body into equal medial and lateral sections.

prone

face down

supine

face up

Planes

imaginary anatomical dividing lines that are useful in separating body structure

Celphalic

skull or head end

caudal

tail end

biology

the study of living things

Abduction

to move away from the body.

Adduction

to move towards the body.

Plantarflexion

to point ankle/wrist downward

Dorsaflexion

to point ankle/wrist upward.