Directional terms

Ventral

Toward the front or belly.

Dorsal

Toward the back or spine.

Anterior

Toward the ventral side.

Posterior

Toward the dorsal side.

Cephalic

Toward the head or superior end.

Rostral

Toward the forehead or nose.

Caudal

Toward the tail or inferior end.

Superior

Above.

Inferior

Below.

Medial

Toward the median plane.

Lateral

Away from the median plane.

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment or origin.

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment or origin.

Ipsilateral

On the same side of the body (right or left).

Contralateral

On opposite sides of the body (right and left).

Superficial

Closer to the body surface.

Deen

Farther from the body surface.

axial region

The axial region is the central, vertical axis of the human body that includes the head, neck, and trunk

appendicular region

includes the bones of the upper and lower limbs, along with the shoulder and hip girdles that attach them to the rest of the