A&P Directional Terminology

Toward or at the midline of the body

• distal

• lateral

• medial

• inferior

close to the origin of a body part (point of attachment)

• inferior

• proximal

• dorsal

• distal

the elbow is _____ to the fingers

• distal

• superficial

• deep

• proximal

toward or at the front of the body

• anterior

• dorsal

• deep

• distal

the nose is ____ to the forehead

• posterior

• anterior

• inferior

• distal

toward or at the backside of the body

• anterior

• proximal

• posterior

• lateral

toward the head end

• anterior

• posterior

• superior

• inferior

the knee is ____ to the thigh

• proximal

• distal

• lateral

• ventral

the heart is ____ to the arm

• lateral

• inferior

• superior

• medial

away from the head end

• posterior

• anterior

• inferior

• ventral