Anatomical Positions — Anatomy Honors

prone

prone

lying face downwards

supine

lying face upward

dorsal

toward the back

caudal

toward the tail (lower)

anterior

front of the body

posterior

back of the body

superior

above another structure

inferior

below another structure

proximal

closer to point of attachment or origin

distal

away from point of attachment or origin

medial

towards the midline of the body

lateral

away from the midline of the body

superficial

closer to the surface (skin as to muscle)

deep

further away from the surface (internal)

ventral

towards the belly

cephalic

towards the head

palmar

the palm

plantar

sole of the foot