positional and directional terms

anatomical position

standard frame of ref. which the body is standing up, face forward, arms at side and palms UP

supine

lying face up

prone

lying face down

dorsal recumbent

lying facing upward with flexed knees, feet flat on floor

fowler position

sitting upright, with back angled 90 degrees

semi-fowler’s

sitting with back angled 45 degrees

anterior

toward the front of body, also known as ventral

posterior

toward the back of the body, also known as dorsal

superior

above, toward the head

inferior

below, toward the feet

medial

closer to midline of body

lateral

further from the midline of the body

superficial

closer to surface of body, more external

deep

farther from body’s surface

proximal

closer to body’s trunk

distal

farther from body’s trunk

dextrad

towards the right

sinistrad

towards the left