Anatomic Directional Terms

Distal

Furthest from point of attachment to trunk (the wrist is distal to the elbow)

Dorsal

At the back side of the human body (spinal cord is on the dorsal side of the body)

Ventral

At the belly side of the human body (the umbilicus is on the ventral side of the body)

Cranial

At the head end (the head is cranial to the trunk)

Caudal

At the rear or tail end (the abdomen is caudal to the head)

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body (the arms are lateral to the heart)

Inferior

Closer to the feet (the stomach is interior to the heart)

Posterior

In back of; toward the back surface (the heart is posterior to the sternum)

Anterior

In front of; toward the front surface (the stomach is anaterior to the spinal cord)

Deep

On the inside; underneath another structure (muscles are deep to the skin)

Medial

Toward the midline of the body (the lungs are medial to the shoulders)

Superior

Closer to the head (the chest is superior to the pelvis)

Proximal

Closest to point of attachment to trunk (the elbow is proximal to the hand)

Superficial

On the outside (the external edge of the kidney is superficial to its internal structure)