Anatomical Position - Medical Terminology ✨

anter(o)

pertaining to front

poster(o)

pertaining to back

dist(o)

pertaining to far from the origin

proxim(o)

pertaining to near the origin

dors(o)

pertaining to the back side

ventr(o)

pertaining to the belly side

super(o)

pertaining to above

infer(o)

pertaining to below

later(o)

pertaining to the side

medi(o)

pertaining to the middle

cephal(o)

pertaining to the head

caud(o)

pertaining to the tail

ipsi

pertaining to the same side

contra

pertaining to the opposite side

pariet(o)

pertaining to a wall

viscer(o)

pertaining to internal organs

Anterior

toward the front

Posterior

toward the back

Distal

farther from the origin

Proximal

closer to the origin

Dorsal

toward the spine

Ventral

toward the stomach

Superior

above another structure

Inferior

below another structure

Lateral

away from the midline

Medial

toward the midline

Cephalic

toward the head

Caudal

toward the feet

Apex

tip of an organ

Base

bottom of an organ

Superficial

near the surface

Deep

further from the skin

Bilateral

both sides of the body

Unilateral

one side of the body

Ipsilateral

same side of the body

Contralateral

opposite side of the body

Parietal

related to a cavity wall

Visceral

related to internal organs