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Anatomy Directions
1.4--Anatomical Directional Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| SUPERIOR | ABOVE, HIGHER IN POSITION; TOWARD HEAD (NOT IN REFERENCE TO LIMBS) |
| CRANIAL (CEPHALIC) | TOWARD HEAD; MORE FLEXIBLE THAN SUPERIOR |
| INFERIOR | BELOW OR LOWER IN POSITION TOWARD FEET (NOT IN REFERENCE TO LIMBS) |
| ROSTRAL | RELATING TO NOSE AND MOUTH REGION; TOWARDFACE |
| CAUDAL | RELATING TO TAIL; AT OR NEAR POSTERIOR |
| ANTERIOR | FRONT OF BODY |
| POSTERIOR | BACK OF BODY |
| VENTRAL | BELLY SIDE OF BODY (ANTERIOR) |
| DORSAL | BACK SIDE OF BODY (POSTERIOR) |
| MEDIAL | NEARER TO MIDLINE |
| LATERAL | FARTHER FROM MIDLINE |
| INTERMEDIATE | BETWEEN TWO STRUCTURES |
| IPSILATERAL | SAME SIDE OF THE BODY'S MIDLINE FROM ANOTHER STRUCTURE |
| CONTRALATERAL | ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF BODY'S MIDLINE FROM ANOTHER STRUCTURE |
| PROXIMAL | NEARER ATTACHMENT OF LIMB TO TRUNK; NEARER TO ORIGINATION OF A STRUCTURE |
| DISTAL | FARTHER FROM ATTACHMENT OF LIMB TO TRUNK |
| SUPERFICIAL | TOWARD OR ON SURFACE OF BODY (EX. RIBS TO LUNGS) |
| DEEP | AWAY FROM SURFACE OF THE BODY |
| EXTERNAL | TOWARD OUTSIDE OF A STRUCTURE |
| INTERNAL | TOWARD INSIDE OF A STRUCTURE |