directional terms LEC 1

the anatomical position

PALMS FACING FORWARD/BLUEPRINT

anterior

in front of

ex: toes are anterior to your heels

posterior

behind of

ex: heels are posterior to your toes

ventral

towards the front of (belly)…

ex: the kneecap is the ventral side of the knee joint

dorsal

toward the back of…

ex: the popliteal fossa is in the dorsal side of the knee joint

proximal

close to origin

ex: the wrist joint is proxmial to the elbow joint

distal

away from origin

ex: the finger joints is distal to the elbow joint

medial

towards the midline

ex: the nose is medial to the eyes

lateral

away from the midline

ex: the eyes are lateral to the eyes

superior

up

ex: the nose is superior to the mouth

inferior

down

cranial

towards the skull

ex: the eyes are cranial to the mouth

caudal

towards the tail

ex: the hips are caudal to the shoulders

superficial

closer to the surface of the body

ex: the ribs are superficial to the lungs

deep

farther way from the surface and more inside the body

ex: the lungs are deep to the ribs

external

outer

internal

inner