Directional Terms

Superior (cranial or cephalad): Toward the head, above

Inferior (caudal): Away from the head, below

Ventral (anterior): Toward the front, infront

Dorsal (posterior): Toward or at the back, behind

Medial: Toward midline, middle of the body

Lateral: Away from the midline toward the outer side of the body

Intermediate: Between a medial and lateral direction

Proximal: Close to conjoining point of the body on an extremity

Distal: farther from the conjoining point of the body on an extremity

Ipsilateral: Same side

Contralateral: Opposite side