Basic Human Anatomy

1-10. DIRECTIONS

1-10. DIRECTIONS

a. Superior, Inferior. Superior means above. Inferior means below.

b. Anterior, Posterior.

(1) Anterior (or ventral) refers to the front of the body.

(2) Posterior (or dorsal) refers to the back of the body.

c. Medial, Lateral. Medial means toward or nearer the midline of the body. Lateral means away from the midline or toward the side of the body.

d. Superficial, Deep. Superficial means closer to the surface of the body. Deep means toward the center of the body or body part.

e. Proximal, Distal. Proximal and distal are terms applied specifically to the limbs. Proximal means nearer to the shoulder joint or the hip joint. Distal means further away from the shoulder joint or the hip joint. Sometimes proximal and distal are used to identify the "beginning" and "end" of the gut tract--that portion closer to the stomach being proximal while that further away being distal.

Primary Content Providers: The U. S. Army, The U.S. Navy
Ancillary Content and Online Version: David L. Heiserman
Publisher: SweetHaven Publishing Services