Anatomical Terminology

Superior

Above

Superior (Example)

The head is Superior to the neck

Inferior

Below

Inferior (Example)

The stomach is Inferior to the heart

Anterior

Towards the front

Anterior (Example)

The nose is Anterior to the ears

Posterior

Toward the back

Posterior (Example)

The spine is Posterior to the ribs

Medial

Toward the midline

Medial (Example)

The nose is Medial to the eyes

Lateral

Away from the midline

Lateral (Example)

The arms are Lateral to the chest

Sagittal Plane (Left/Right)

Sagittal divides the body into left and right parts.

Frontal (coronal) Plane

Frontal / Coronal didives the body into the front (Anterior) & back (Posterior)

Transverse (Horizontal)

Divides the body into top (Superior) & bottom (Inferior)

Proximal

Closer to the body

Proximal (Example)

The elbow is Proximal to the wrist

Distal

Farther from the body.

Distal (Example)

The elbow is Distal to shoulder.

Superficial

Near the surface

Superficial (Example)

The skin is Superficial to the muscles.

Deep

Farther inside

Deep (Example)

The bones are Deep to the muscle.

Plane imagen (its was red on the powerpoint)

Imagine sliding a sheet of glass through the body