BioMed terms and definitions

Directional terms

Words that describe the location of one structure in relation to another. These terms are also used to indicate specific locations on organs or bones

Regional terms

Words that describe specific regions or locations on the body

Body planes

Words that act like a coordinate system to describe a human in the anatomical position

Body cavities

Words that describe the spaces of the body that contain the internal organs, or viscera

Superior

Above (Head is superior to the neck)

Inferior

Below (Heart is inferior to the neck)

Medial

Towards the midline (Big toe is medial to the little toe)

Lateral

Towards the side, away from the midline (Ears are lateral to the eyes)

Proximal

Near the point of attachment to the trunk (Elbow is proximal to the wrist)

Distal

Away from the point of attachment to the trunk (Fingers are distal to the wrist)

Anterior

Front (Nose is anterior to the brain)

Posterior

Back (Spinal cord is posterior to the esophagus)

Ventral

Belly-side; in humans, synonymous with anterior (The stomach is ventral to the vertebrae)

Dorsal

Back-side; in humans, synonymous with posterior (The vertebrae are dorsal to the ribs)

Superficial

Closer to the surface (The epidermis is superficial to the hypodermis)

Deep

Away from the surface (Muscles are deep to the skin)