Medical Terminology System Directional Terms

Towards the Front. 
[The eyes are _______ to the brain].

• Inferior
• Deep
• Lateral
• Anterior

Away from midline

• Lateral
• Distal
• Superior
• Transverse

Divides body into top and bottom portions (superior-head; inferior-feat)

• Medial Plane
• Sagittal
• Proximal 
• Transverse Plane

A body part is above another part, or is closer to the head

• Superficial
• Lateral
• Superior
• Deep

Body is standing straight, facing forward, upper limbs at side and palms facing forward. 
*right and left refer to "right" and "left" of the body in position.

• Sagittal
• Anatomical Position
• Anterior Position
• Anatomical Plane

Away from the origin or trunk

• Deep
• Distal
• Proximal
• Posterior

The knee is _______ to the ankle.

• proximal
• lateral
• distal
• medial

The bone is _____ to the skin.

• inferior
• superficial
• deep
• posterior

The cranial cavity and the spinal (vertebral) cavity are both contained within the _______ cavity.

• dorsal
• ventral
• abdominal
• throacic

The thoracic cavity and the abdominopelvic cavity are both contained within the _______ cavity.

• dorsal
• ventral
• cranial
• spinal