Anatomical terminologies (Chapter 5)

Standing upright, face forward, arms at sides, palms forward

Anatomical Position

Anatomical Position

Standing upright, face forward, arms at sides, palms forward

Supine

Lying face-up

Prone

Lying face-down

Reference Point

Always based on the body's orientation, not gravity or earth

Right

Towards the right side of the body

Left

Towards the left side of the body

Superior

(higher) A structure above another

Inferior

(lower) A structure below another

Cephalic

(head) Closer to the head than another structure; usually synonymous with superior

Caudal

(tail) closer to the tail than another structure; usually synonymous with inferior

Anterior

(before) The front of the body

Posterior

(following) The back of the body

Ventral

(belly) Toward the belly (synonymous with anterior)

Dorsal

(back) Toward the back (synonymous with posterior)

Proximal

(nearest) closer to the point of attachment to the body than another structure

Distal

(to stand apart or to be distant) Farther from the point of attachment than another structure

Lateral

(side) Away from the middle of the body

Medial

(middle) Toward the midline of the body

Superficial

(toward the surface) Toward or on the surface

Deep

Away from the surface; internal