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.