Common Directional Terms in Animal Anatomy

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering directional anatomical terms used to describe locations and positioning in animals.

ANTERIOR

front of the body

ASPECT

area

CAUDAL

toward the tail

CRANIAL

toward the head

DEEP

far away from the surface

DISTAL

away from the center of the body

DORSAL

toward the back area

EXTERNAL

outer surface of the body

INTERNAL

deep inside the body

LATERAL

side of the body; toward the outside

MEDIAL

inside of an area; toward the inside

OBLIQUE

slanted or on an incline

PALMAR

the bottom of the front feet

PLANTAR

the bottom of the rear feet

POSTERIOR

rear end of the body

PROXIMAL

closer to the center of the body

RECUMBENCY

lying in position

RECUMBENT

lying

ROSTRAL

toward the nose

SUPERFICIAL

near the surface

TRANSVERSE

across an area dividing it into cranial and caudal sections

VENTRAL

toward the abdomen or belly area