Anatomical Positions

Lateral

Refers to the position of a structure relative to the midline of the body. A lateral structure is away from the midline. Your nostrils are lateral to the tip of your nose.

Medial

Refers to the position of a structure relative to the midline of the body. A medial structure is toward the midline. Your belly button is medial to your hips.

Distal

Refers to the position of a structure relative to where something attaches to the body. A distal structure is further away from the attachment point. In your hand, your fingernails are distal to your knuckles

Proximal

Refers to the position of a structure relative to where something attaches to the body. A proximal structure is closer to the attachment point. In your arm, your elbow is proximal to your wrist.

Posterior

Describes the position of a structure front-to-back. A posterior structure is toward the back. Your tongue is posterior to your teeth.

Anterior

Describes the position of a structure front-to-back. An anterior structure is toward the front. Your chest is anterior to your spine.

Cranial

Describes the position of a structure relative to the head and tail. A cranial structure is toward the head. Your neck is cranial to your belly button. In humans, cranial and superior mean the same thing. In four legged animals, cranial and anterior are often used interchangeably.

Caudal

Describes the position of structure relative to the head and tail. A cause structure is toward the tail or rear. Your shoulders are caudal to your head. In humans, caudal and inferior mean the same thing. In four legged animals, caudal and posterior are often used interchangeably.

Superior

Describes the vertical position of a structure. A superior structure is above something else. Your forehead is superior to your nose

Inferior

Describes the vertical position of a structure. An inferior structure is below something else. Your chin is inferior to your mouth.

Ventral

Refers to the lower structures of an organism walking on all fours. A ventral structure is a lower structure. If you are on all fours, your chest is ventral to your backbone.

Dorsal

"Dorsal" and "ventral" assume and organism is walking on all fours. The terms refer to upper structures and lower structures. A dorsal structure is an upper structure. If you are on all fours, your backbone is dorsal to your chest. The top of your foot is dorsal to the bottom of your foot.