Foundations to Health Science : Directional Terms

Supine Position

lying face up

Prone position

Lying face down

Superior/cranial

Above or higher up

Inferior

Below or lower down

Caudal

Below or lower than - towards the tail bone from higher up

Medial

Towards the mid line

Lateral

Towards the side

Superficial

Towards the body surface

Deep

Towards the body core

Anterior/ventral

Front or towards the front

Posterior/dorsal

Back or towards the back

Proximal

For limbs only: closer to the shoulder or closer to the hip. Closer to the trunk of the body

Distal

For limbs only: further from the shoulder, further from the hip. Further from the trunk