Anatomical Postion and Directional Terms

Medial

Moving towards the midline/middle of body … Medial = Midline/Middle

Lateral

Moving away from the midline/middle of body, towards the side of the body.

Superior / Cranial

Above, Toward the head… Superior = Skull

Inferior / Caudal(tail)

Below, Away from the head…Inferior = Floor

Anterior / Ventral

Front, Toward the front of the body…A comes before P

Posterior / Dorsal

Back, Toward the back of the body…A comes before P

Proximal

Toward the trunk, near the origin…Proximal = Proximity

Distal

Away from the trunk, far from the origin…Distal = Distant

Superficial

Closer to the surface of the body…Superficial = Surface

Deep

Away from the surface of the body

Unilateral

Involving one side of the body…Unilateral = One

Bilateral

Involving both sides of the body…Bilateral = Two

Ipsilateral

On the same side of the body…Ipsilateral = Same

Contralateral

On opposite sides of the body…Contralateral = Opposite