NMT Cross-Sectional Anatomy Positional Terms

Anatomical Position

Standing upright with feet flat on the floor arms at the side of the body with palms facing forward (facing the observer)

Anterior

front of the body

Axial

refers to central axis of the body. think of towards middle of the body or towards the spine

Caudal

toward the tail. usually only used with positions in the torso.

central

Center of the body. Axial and center position are the same

contralateral

structures are on opposite sides of the body.

cranial

toward the head. use of this term is mostly restricted to relative positions within the torso

Deep

refers to positions that are farther from the surface and closer to the center of the body

Distal

refers to a position or direction along a limb that is farther to the torso. think of "flow away from the heart"

dorsal

means toward the back. back of the body and front of the legs and feet are dorsal

external

synonym for lateral. away from the midline of the body

inferior

toward the ground, or where the ground would be in the subject were in the anatomical position

internal

synonym for medial. toward the midline of the body

ipsilateral

structures on the same side of the body

lateral

away from the midline of the body

left

absolute term. your right side when looking at the anterior anatomical view.

medial

toward the midline of the body

median

the closest approximation to of the right left midline. structures are median if they lie on the line that evenly divides the torso into right and left parts.

parietal

refers to a structure that relates to the wall of the body cavity

posterior

toward the rear. surfaces are to the rear of the body or the back

proximal

refers to a position or direction along a limb that is closer to the torso or blood flow to the heart

right

Absolute term. on your left side when looking at the anterior anatomical view.

rostral

toward the beak or the nose, applies to direction on the head or brain.

Superficial

refers to positions that are closer to the surface of the body.

ventral

towards the belly. the front of the body to the waist and the back of the legs.

visceral

refers to a structure that relates to the internal organs