Directional Terms, Anatomic Planes, Patient Positions

Anterior (ant)

Toward the front of the body.

Anterolateral

Pertaining to the front and side.

Anteromedial

Pertaining to the front and middle.

Anteroposterior (AP)

Pertaining to the front and back.

Anterosuperior

Pertaining to the front and upper.

Caudad

Toward the tail or lower part of the body.

Caudal

Pertaining to the tail.

Cephalad

Toward the head.

Cephalic

Pertaining to the head.

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment or from a given reference point.

Dorsal

Pertaining to the back or posterior.

Inferior (inf)

Below another structure; lower.

Inferolateral

Below and to the side.

Lateral (lat)

Pertaining to the side of the body.

Medial (med)

Pertaining to the middle or center.

Mediolateral

Pertaining to the middle and side.

Posterior (post)

Toward the back of the body.

Posteroanterior (PA)

Pertaining to the back and front.

Posterolateral

Pertaining to the back and side.

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment or to a given reference point.

Superior (sup)

Above another structure; higher.

Superolateral

Above and to the side.

Ventral

Pertaining to the front or anterior.

Axial Plane

A horizontal plane dividing the body into superior and inferior parts.

Coronal Plane

A vertical plane dividing the body into anterior and posterior parts.

Sagittal Plane

A vertical plane dividing the body into left and right parts.

Lateral Position

Lying on one side of the body.

Orthopnea Position

Sitting upright to ease breathing.

Prone Position

Lying face down.

Semiprone Position

Lying on the side with some elevation of the upper body.

Sitting Position

Sitting upright in a chair or on an examination table.

Supine Position

Lying on the back.

Trendelenburg Position

Lying on the back with the legs elevated higher than the head.