Anatomical Direction

ANTERIOR Front or forward-facing side of the body. It's the side you'd see when looking at a person directly from the front. Nose is anterior to the ears. POSTERIOR The back or rear side of the body. It's the side you'd see when looking at a person from behind. Spine is posterior to the chest. MEDIAL Structures closer to the midline of the body, i.e., closer to the imaginary line that divides the body into equal right and left halves. Nose is medial to the eyes LATERAL Structures farther from the midline of the body or towards the sides of the body. Ears are lateral to the eyes SUPERIOR A position above or higher than another part of the body. Eyes are superior to the mouth INFERIOR A position below or lower than another part of the body. The mouth is inferior to the eyes PROXIMAL In relation to the point of attachment of a limb to the body, proximal means closer. Shoulder is proximal to the elbow CORONAL OR FRONTAL PLANE SAGITTAL OR DISTAL MEDIAN PLANE In relation to the point of attachment of a limb to the body, distal means farther away. Fingers are distal to the wrist