Directional Terms

Directional Term

Definition

Example of Use

Superior (soo'-PĒR-ē-or)

Above or higher in position; toward the head. (Not used in reference to relative positions within the limbs.)

The heart is superior to the liver.

Cranial (KRĀN-ē-al) orcephalic (se-FAL-ik)

Relating to the skull or head; toward the head. (This is a more flexible term than superior because it can be applied to all animals, whether they stand upright on two limbs or on all four limbs.)

The stomach is more cranial than the urinary bladder.

Inferior (in'-FĒR-ē-or)

Below or lower in position; toward the feet. (Not used in reference to relative positions within the limbs.)

The stomach is inferior to the lungs.

Rostral (ROS'-tral)

Relating to the nose and mouth region; toward the face. (Used only in references within the head.)

The frontal lobe of the brain is rostral to the occipital lobe (see Figure 18.12b).

Caudal (KAWD-al)

Relating to the tail; at or near the tail end of the trunk. (Used only in references to relative positions within the trunk.)

The lumbar vertebrae are caudal to the cervical vertebrae (see Figure 7.17a).

Anterior (an-TĒR-ē-or)

Nearer to or at the front of the body.

The sternum (breastbone) is anterior to the heart.

Posterior (pos-TĒR-ē-or)

Nearer to or at the back of the body.

The esophagus (food tube) is posterior to the trachea (windpipe).

Ventral (VEN-tral)

Relating to the belly side of the body; toward the belly. (Used synonymously with anterior in human anatomy.)

The intestines are ventral to the vertebral column.

Dorsal (DORS-al)

Relating to the back side of the body; toward the back. (Used synonymously with posterior in human anatomy.)

The kidneys are dorsal to the stomach.

Medial (MĒ-dē-al)

Nearer to the midline (an imaginary longitudinal line that divides the body into equal right and left sides).

The ulna is medial to the radius.

Lateral (LAT-er-al)

Farther from the midline.

The lungs are lateral to the heart.

Intermediate (in'-ter-MĒ-dē-at)

Between two structures.

The transverse colon is intermediate to the ascending colon and descending colon.

Ipsilateral (ip-si-LAT-er-al)

On the same side of the body’s midline as another structure.

The gallbladder and ascending colon are ipsilateral organs.

Contralateral (CON-tra-lat-er-al)

On the opposite side of the body’s midline from another structure.

The ascending and descending colons are contralateral organs.

Proximal (PROK-si-mal)

Nearer to the attachment of a limb to the trunk; nearer to the origination of a structure.

The humerus (arm bone) is proximal to the radius.

Distal (DIS-tal)

Farther from the attachment of a limb to the trunk; farther from the origination of a structure.

The phalanges (finger bones) are distal to the carpals (wrist bones).

Superficial (soo'-per-FISH-al)

Toward or on the surface of the body.

The ribs are superficial to the lungs.

Deep

Away from the surface of the body.

The ribs are deep to the skin of the chest and back.

External (ex-TERN-al)

Toward the outside of a structure. (Is typically used when describing relationships of individual organs.)

The visceral pleura is on the external surface of the lungs (see Figure 1.7a).

Internal (in-TERN-al)

Toward the inside of a structure. (Is typically used when describing relationships of individual organs.)

The mucosa forms the internal lining of the stomach (see Figure 24.11a).