ORIENTATION AND DIRECTIONAL TERMS
• Anterior (Ventral)
> front or direction toward the front of the body
(The toes are anterior to the foot)
• Posterior (Dorsal)
> back or direction toward the back of the body
(The popliteus is posterior to the patella)
• Superior (Cranial)
> position above or higher than another part of the body
(The orbits are superior to the oris)
• Inferior (Caudal)
> position below or lower than another part of the body
(The pelvis is inferior to the abdomen)
• Lateral
> direction toward the side of the body
(The thumb is lateral to the digits)
• Medial
> middle
(The hallux is the medial toe)
• Proximal
> position in a limb that is nearer from the point of attachment or trunk of the body
(The brachium is proximal to the antebrachial)
• Distal
> position in a limb that is farther from the point of attachment or trunk of the body
(The crus is distal to the femur)
• Superficial
> position closer to the surface of the body
(The skin is superficial to the bones)
• Deep
> position farther from the surface of the body
(The brain is deep to the skull)
• Intermediate
> between a more medial and lateral structure
(The armpit is intermediate between the breastbone and shoulder)
BODY LANDMARKS
ANTERIOR
• Abdominal (abdomen)
• Acromial (point of shoulder)
• Antecubital (anterior surface of elbow)
• Axillary (armpit)
• Brachial (arm)
• Antebrachial (forearm)
• Frontal (forehead)
• Mental (chin)
• Mammary (breast)
• Buccal (cheek)
• Carpal (wrist)
• Palmar (palm)
• Pollex (thumb)
• Pedal (foot)
• Hallux (great toe)
• Cervical (neck region)
• Coxal (hip)
• Crural (leg)
• Digital (fingers and toes)
• Femoral (thigh)
• Fibular (side of the leg)
• Inguinal (groin)
• Nasal (nose)
• Oral (mouth)
• Orbital (eye)
• Patellar (anterior knee)
• Pelvic (pelvis)
• Pubic (genital region)
• Sternal (breastbone area)
• Tarsal (ankle region)
• Thoracic (chest)
• Umbilical (navel)
POSTERIOR
• Calcaneal (heel of foot)
• Cephalic (head)
• Otic (ear)
• Sacral (between hips)
• Perineal (region between the anus and external genitalia)
• Deltoid (curve of shoulder formed by large deltoid muscle)
• Femoral (thigh)
• Gluteal (buttock)
• Lumbar (loin)
• Occipital (posterior surface of head)
• Olecranal (posterior surface of elbow)
• Popliteal (back of knee)
• Scapular (shoulder blade region)
• Sural (calf)
• Vertebral (area of spine)
• Plantar (sole of the foot)
