Anatomical Directional Terms

Inferior

• Above; Toward the head or upper part of a structure

• Below; Away from the head or toward the lower part of a structure

• At the same level; Neither above nor below

• Near the center; Toward the middle of a structure

Superior

• Above; towards the head or upper part of a structure

• Below; towards the feet or lower part of a structure

• To the side; away from the midline of the body

• In front; towards the front of the body

Medial

• Toward the midline of the body; on the inner side

• Away from the midline of the body; on the outer side

• Toward the head or upper part of the body

• Toward the feet or lower part of the body

Lateral

• Away from the midline of the body; on the outer side

• Toward the midline of the body; on the inner side

• At or near the front of the body

• At or near the back of the body

Deep

• Away from the body surface; more internal

• Close to the body surface; more external

• In a horizontal position; parallel to the ground

• Near the center of the body; medial

Distal

• Farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

• Closer to the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

• At the same level as the origin of a body part

• Opposite to the direction of the body trunk

Anterior

• Toward the front of the body; in front of

• Toward the back of the body; behind

• Toward the side of the body; lateral

• Toward the top of the body; superior

Proximal

• Closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

• Farther from the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

• At the midpoint of a limb or body part

• Towards the outer surface of the body

Posterior

• Toward the front of the body; in front

• Toward the back of the body; behind

• To the side of the body; lateral

• At the top of the body; superior

Superficial

• Toward or at the body surface

• Away from the body surface

• Deep within the body

• In the middle of the body