BackDirectional Terms
Terms in this set (25)
Anatomical Position
the universal standard reference posture used in medicine and biology to describe the locations and relationships of body structures
Prone
Laying face down on stomach
Supine
laying face up on back
Anterior
situated at or directed toward the front of the body
Ventral
located toward the front or belly side of the body
Posterior
situated at or toward the back of the body
Dorsal
relating to or situated near the back of the body
Superior
body part is located above or toward the head end of the body
Cranial
Skull by head
Cephalic
relating to the head or located toward the head end of the body
Cervical
the neck area
inferior
located below or closer to the feet relative to another body structure
Caudal
positioned toward the tail or the lower part of the body, away from the head
medial
a position closer to the midline
Intermidiate
a body part located between a more medial (closer to the center) structure and a more lateral (farther from the center) structure
Lateral
a position or structure that is farther away from the middle, or midline, of the body
Bilateral
relating to or affecting both the left and right sides of the body, or both members of a pair of organs
Unilateral
relating to, occurring on, or affecting only one side of the body
Isilateral
on the same side of the body
Contralateral
residing on or affecting the opposite side of the body
Peripheral
situated away from the center or toward the outer surface of the body
Proximal
body part is located closer to the center of the body or to the point of attachment of a limb
Distal
a body part is located farther away from the center of the body, the trunk, or the point where a limb attaches
Superficial
a structure is located at or closer to the surface of the body
deep
a body part is located farther away from the surface of the body