Biology Unit 13 Comparative Anatomy, Target 1 Anatomical Terms & Directional Terms

anatomical position

standing, arms at sides, palms forward, feet together

midline

an imaginary line that divides the body into right and left halves

anterior

toward the front (same as ventral)

posterior

toward the back (same as dorsal)

ventral

toward the front, (same as anterior)

dorsal

toward the back, (same as posterior)

superior

toward the head, (same as cranial)

inferior

toward the feet/tailbone, (same as caudal)

lateral

away from the midline

medial

toward the midline

distal

away from the trunk

proximal

toward the trunk

apical

toward the tip or apex

basal

toward the bottom or base

superficial

toward the surface

deep

away from the surface, (same as internal)

internal

inside the body

external

outside the body

cranial

toward the head, (same as superior)

caudal

toward the tailbone, (similar to inferior)