Directional terms

TABLE A.1

Directional Terms in Human Anatomy

APR

Term

Meaning

Ventral

Toward the front* or belly

Dorsal

Toward the back or spine

Anterior

Toward the ventral side*

Posterior

Toward the dorsal side*

Cephalic

Toward the head or superior end

Rostral

Toward the forehead or nose

Caudal

Toward the tail or inferior end

Superior

Above

Inferior

Below

Medial

Toward the median plane

Lateral

Away from the median plane

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment or origin

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment or origin

Ipsilateral

On the same side of the body (right or left)

Contralateral

On opposite sides of the body (right and left)

Superficial

Closer to the body surface

Farther from the body surface

Examples of Usage

The aorta is ventral to the vertebral column.

The vertebral column is dorsal to the aorta.

The sternum is anterior to the heart.

The esophagus is posterior to the trachea.

The brain develops from the cephalic end of the neural tube.

The forebrain is rostral to the brainstem.

The spinal cord is caudal to the brain.

The heart is superior to the diaphragm.

The liver is inferior to the diaphragm.

The heart is medial to the lungs.

The eyes are lateral to the nose.

The elbow is proximal to the wrist.

The fingernails are at the distal ends of the fingers.

The liver is ipsilateral to the appendix.

The spleen is contralateral to the liver.

Deen

The skin is superficial to the muscles.

The bones are deen to the muscles