anatomical directional terms

superior (cranial)

above or closer to the head

the esophagus is __ to the stomach

superior

inferior (caudal)

below or closer to the feet

the bladder is __ to the kidneys

inferior

anterior (ventral)

toward the front of the body

the sternum is __ to the spine

anterior

posterior (dorsal)

towards the back of the body

the sacrum is __ to the pubis symphysis

posterior

medial

closer to the midline of the body

the tibia is the __ bone of the lower leg

medial

lateral

further away from the midline of the body

the radius is __ to the ulna

lateral

proximal

closer to the trunk of the body

the __ femur articulates with the pelvis to form the hip joint

proximal

distal

farther away from the trunk

the __ humerus helps to form the elbow

distal

superficial

closer to the surface of the body

veins are __ to arteries

superficial

deep

farther from the body’s surface

arteries are __ than veins

deeper

sagittal plane divides body

vertically

coronal plane divides body

horizontally

transverse plane divides body

upper and lower parts