Anatomical Terms of Direction

Standing upright with palms and feet facing forward.

• Anatomical Position

• Anatomical Planes

• Anatomical Directions

• Anatomical Movements

Refers to a structure being closer to the feet or lower than another structure in the body

• Superior
• Proximal
• Medial
• Inferior

Refers to a structure being more in front than another structure in the body

• Anterior
• Posterior
• Superior
• Inferior

Toward the back

• Dorsal
• Ventral
• Superior
• Inferior

With reference to the extremities only, refers to ta structure being further away from the root of the limb than another structure in that limb

• Inferior

• Superior

• Proximal

• Distal

The knee is _______ to the ankle.

• proximal
• lateral
• distal
• medial

The chin is _____ to the orbital socket (eyes).

• superior

• deep

• inferior

• lateral

The bone is _____ to the skin.

• inferior
• superficial
• deep
• posterior

The right shoulder is ______ to the sternum (breast bone).

• medial
• proximal
• distal
• lateral

The pinky finger is ___ to the thumb. (anatomical position!)

• medial

• lateral

• posterior

• superior