directional terms

words to describe directions in a medical term

superior

• cranial (skull)

• cephalic (head)

• TOWARDS the head end or upper part of a structure or body

• “above”

inferior

• caudal (near the tail of the body)

• AWAY from the head end

• TOWARDS the lower part of a structure or body

• “below”

anterior

• ventral (front part of the body/ belly side up)

• TOWARDS or at the FRONT of the body

• “infront of”

posterior

• dorsal (on the back)

• TOWARDS or at the BACKSIDE of the body

• “behind”

medial

• towards OR at the MIDDLE of the body

• “on the inner side of”

lateral

• away from the MIDDDLE of the body

• “on the outer side of”

proximal

• close to the ORIGIN of the body part/ point of attachment of a limb to the body

distal

• FURTHER from the origin of a body part/ point of attachment or point of attachment of a limb to the body

superficial

• external

• TOWARDS or at body surface

deep

• internal

• AWAY from the body surface

• more internal