Directional Terms: Domestic Animals

Individual’s left

Animal: left

Individual’s right

Animal: right

Toward the head end of the body

Animal: cranial

Toward the tip of the nise (head only)

Rostral

Toward the tail end of the body

Caudal

Toward the back 

Dorsal 

Toward the belly

Ventral

Toward the median plane

medial

Away from the median plane

Lateral

Toward the center (whole body or part) 

Deep (internal) 

Toward the surface (whole body or part)

Superficial (external)

Toward the body (extremity)

Proximal

Away from the body (extremity)

Distal

“Back” or forelimb from carpus distally 

Palmar 

“Back” or hindlimb from tarsus distally

Plantar

“Front” of forelimb and hindlimb from carpus and tarsus distally

Dorsal