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Anatomy Directions
1.4--Anatomical Directional Terms
Term | Definition |
---|---|
SUPERIOR | ABOVE, HIGHER IN POSITION; TOWARD HEAD (NOT IN REFERENCE TO LIMBS) |
CRANIAL (CEPHALIC) | TOWARD HEAD; MORE FLEXIBLE THAN SUPERIOR |
INFERIOR | BELOW OR LOWER IN POSITION TOWARD FEET (NOT IN REFERENCE TO LIMBS) |
ROSTRAL | RELATING TO NOSE AND MOUTH REGION; TOWARDFACE |
CAUDAL | RELATING TO TAIL; AT OR NEAR POSTERIOR |
ANTERIOR | FRONT OF BODY |
POSTERIOR | BACK OF BODY |
VENTRAL | BELLY SIDE OF BODY (ANTERIOR) |
DORSAL | BACK SIDE OF BODY (POSTERIOR) |
MEDIAL | NEARER TO MIDLINE |
LATERAL | FARTHER FROM MIDLINE |
INTERMEDIATE | BETWEEN TWO STRUCTURES |
IPSILATERAL | SAME SIDE OF THE BODY'S MIDLINE FROM ANOTHER STRUCTURE |
CONTRALATERAL | ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF BODY'S MIDLINE FROM ANOTHER STRUCTURE |
PROXIMAL | NEARER ATTACHMENT OF LIMB TO TRUNK; NEARER TO ORIGINATION OF A STRUCTURE |
DISTAL | FARTHER FROM ATTACHMENT OF LIMB TO TRUNK |
SUPERFICIAL | TOWARD OR ON SURFACE OF BODY (EX. RIBS TO LUNGS) |
DEEP | AWAY FROM SURFACE OF THE BODY |
EXTERNAL | TOWARD OUTSIDE OF A STRUCTURE |
INTERNAL | TOWARD INSIDE OF A STRUCTURE |