Directional Terms of the Body

Anterior

front or direction toward front of the body

Posterior

the back or direction toward the back of the body

Superior

position above or higher than another part of the body

Inferior

position below or lower than another part of the body

Lateral

the side or direction toward the side of the body

Medial

the middle or direction toward the middle of the body

Proximal

position in a limb that is nearer to the point of attachment or the trunk of the body

Distal

position in a limb that is farther from the point of attachment or the trunk of the body

Superficial

position closer to the surface of the body; the skin is this to the bones

Deep

position farther from the surface of the body; the brain is this to the skull

supine

person laying upward

prone

person laying downward