Anatomical Directional Terms

Overview

This lecture introduces key anatomical directional terms, explaining their meanings and providing simple memory aids to help students accurately describe locations and relationships in the human body.

Anatomical Position

• Standard anatomical position: standing upright, eyes forward, arms at sides with palms forward and thumbs outward, legs parallel, feet flat and forward.
• Right and left always refer to the patient’s own right and left.

Medial and Lateral

• Medial: toward the midline (middle) of the body.
• Lateral: toward the side, away from the midline.
• Example: Nose is medial to the eyes; arms are lateral to the torso.

Superior and Inferior (Cranial and Caudal)

• Superior (cranial): above or toward the head.
• Inferior (caudal): below or away from the head (toward the tail/floor).
• Example: Eyes are superior to the nose; mouth is inferior to the nose.

Anterior and Posterior (Ventral and Dorsal)

• Anterior (ventral): toward the front of the body.
• Posterior (dorsal): toward the back of the body.
• Example: Kneecap is anterior to the leg; elbow is posterior to the arm.

Proximal and Distal

• Proximal: closer to the trunk or point of attachment.
• Distal: farther from the trunk or point of attachment.
• Example: Elbow is proximal to the wrist; hand is distal to the wrist.

Superficial and Deep

• Superficial: closer to the surface of the body.
• Deep: farther from the surface of the body.
• Example: Skin is superficial to the ribs; lungs are deep to the ribs.

Unilateral, Bilateral, Ipsilateral, and Contralateral

• Unilateral: involving one side of the body.
• Bilateral: involving both sides of the body.
• Ipsilateral: on the same side of the body.
• Contralateral: on opposite sides of the body.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Anatomical position — Reference posture for anatomical descriptions.
• Medial — Toward the midline.
• Lateral — Toward the side.
• Superior (Cranial) — Toward the head.
• Inferior (Caudal) — Away from the head.
• Anterior (Ventral) — Toward the front.
• Posterior (Dorsal) — Toward the back.
• Proximal — Near the trunk or origin.
• Distal — Far from the trunk or origin.
• Superficial — Near the surface.
• Deep — Away from the surface.
• Unilateral — One side only.
• Bilateral — Both sides.
• Ipsilateral — Same side.
• Contralateral — Opposite side.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review and memorize the definitions and examples for each directional term.
• Watch the related video on body planes and sections for more context.