Embedded Files
Directional terms in the medical field help determine what is being pinpointed on the body. In the last section, body regions help to determine the area, but in order to determine sites within that area, we need to be more specific. One way to do this is through directional terms.
Superior / Cranial - towards the head
Ex: The nose is superior to the navel.
Inferior / Caudal - away from the head
Ex: The foot is in the inferior extremity.
Anterior / Ventral - towards the front
Ex: The toes are anterior to the heel.
Posterior / Dorsal - towards the back
Ex: The heel is on the posterior side of the foot.
Medial - towards the midline of the body
Ex: The sternum is medial to the shoulder.
Lateral - away from the midline of the body
Ex: Raise your arms laterally from the body.
*Proximal - towards the point of attachment
Ex: The knee is proximal to the foot. (The knee is closer to the point of attachment, which is the hip joint where the leg attaches to the rest of the body, than the foot).
*Distal - away from the point of attachment
Ex: The fingers are on the distal end of the arm.
*Be careful with proximal and distal as opposed to superior and inferior. You would say the hip is inferior to the chin but not distal as both structures do not share a common point of attachment.
Remember these terms are not exclusive. It is possible to use more than one when comparing two structures. Ex: The nose is superior and anterior to the popliteal region (back of the knee). Learn about the body regions, such as the popliteal region, here.
Resources:
Unlocking Medical Terminology by Bruce D. Wingerd, https://training.seer.cancer.gov/anatomy/body/terminology.html#directional.
Google Sites
Report abuse