Medical Terms - Directional Terms

This term means above

• inferior

• anterior

• superior

• posterior

This term means below

• inferior

• anterior

• superior

• posterior

This term means toward the front

• medial

• anterior

• lateral

• posterior

This term means toward the back

• medial

• anterior

• lateral

• posterior

This term means toward the midline

• medial

• anterior

• lateral

• posterior

This term means away from the midline

• medial

• anterior

• lateral

• posterior

This term means further from the point of attachment to the body

• medial

• distal

• lateral

• proximal

This term means closer the point of attachment to the body

• medial

• distal

• lateral

• proximal

the neck is ____________ to the belly button

the ankle is __________ to the knee