directional terms

1. anter/o- Pertaining to the front
2. anteroposterior- Relating to both front and rear
3. bi- two
4. bilateral- refers to two or both sides
5. caudal- Refering to the tail or hind part
6. cephal- Pertaining to the head
7. contralateral- the opposite side
8. deep- further away from the surface
9. distal- Situated farthest from middle
10. dorsal- Pertaining to the back
11. inferior- Located beneath or directly downward
12. ipsilateral- same side of the body
13. lateral- Located farthest from midline
14. medial- Located toward midline
15. posterior- Toward or situated at the back
16. proximal- Nearest to a point of reference
17. superficial- closer to the surface
18. superior- Located above or directly upward
19. uni- one
20. ventral- Pertaining to the belly

Planes (see below)
A. Frontal Plane- vertical plane that divides the body into a front and back
B. Sagittal Plane- vertical plane that divides the body into a right and left
C. Transverse Plane- horizontal plane that divides the body into a top and
bottom
Directional Terms related to the Body/Joints
 Rotation: Moving a body part around a central axis
 Supination: Process of turning palm or foot upward
 Pronation: Turning the hand so the palm faces downward
 Abduction: Moving a body part away from the midline
 Adduction: Moving a body part toward the midline or middle
 Circumduction: Moving a body part in a circular motion
 Dorsiflexion: bending a body part backward, towards dorsum
 Eversion: Process of turning a body part outward
 Inversion: Process of turning a body part inward
 Extension: Straightening a flexed limb
 Flexion: Bending a limb
 Protraction: Process of moving a body part forward
 Retraction: Process of moving a body part backward
 Supine: Lying face up
 Prone: Lying face down