BIO LAB

DIRECTIONAL TERMS

Lateral. position farther away from the middle or center line of the body

Medial. toward the middle or midline of the body

Proximal. closer to the center of the body or the point where a limb or structure attaches

Distal. further away from the center of the body or the point where a limb attaches

Superior. closer to the head or higher than another structure in the body

Inferior. lower or positioned below another structure relative to the vertical axis of the body

Anterior/Ventral. the front or toward the front of the body

Posterior/dorsal

Posterior/Dorsal. Toward the back of the body

SUPERFICIAL. (closer to the surface of the body)

Deep

DEEP. (further away from the surface and more internal)

Cross-section/transverse

CROSS-SECTION/TRANSVERSE. (divides body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts.)

Sagittal Section

divides the body into left and right sections

coronal/frontal section

divides body into front and back portion

4 Abdominal quadrants

a simple map use to divide the belly into four sections so they can easily describe pain, lumps, or injuries