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Medical Terminology
Directional Terms
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Anterior (ventral) | toward the front of the body. |
Posterior (dorsal) | toward the back of the body. |
Medial | toward the midline of the body |
Lateral | toward the side of the body |
Proximal | nearer to the point of attachment or to a given reference point. |
Distal | farther from the point of attachment or from a given reference point. |
Superior (cranial) | above; toward the head. |
Inferior (caudal) | below; toward the lower end of the spine. |
Superficial (external) | closer to the surface of the body |
Deep (internal) | closer to the center of the body. |