Medical Term - Body Positions

superior or cephalic

more toward head, or above another structure

inferior or cavadal

more toward feet or tail or below another structure

anterior or ventral

more toward front or belly side of body

posterior or dorsal

more toward back or spinal cord side of body

medial

refers to middle of body or structure

lateral

refers to the side

proximal

located near to point of attachment to body

distal

located farther away from point of attachment to body

apex

tip or summit of an organ

base

bottom or lower part of organ

superficial

more toward surface of body

deep

further away from surface of body

supine

body is lying horizontally and facing upward

prone

body is lying horizontally and facing downward