Anatomical Terminology - Directional Terms

in health •  7 years ago 

This is an overview together with an explanation of directional terms using anatomical terminology:

I have no experience with anatomical terminology. I am only trying to give myself a head start before I start my study in February.

Superior or cranial: Meaning above. Used to describe when something is above, or toward the head. Superior meaning above, while cranial meaning toward the head.

Inferior or caudal. This is, of course, the opposite. Inferior meaning below. Just like the superior is the god and I am inferior to him. Lol. Caudal is then meaning away from the head.

Anterior or ventral. My toes are placed on the anterior of my foot or kneecap on the leg. The ventral part of the body is the front of the body or the belly side of the body. It was easy to make reference to superior and inferior but harder with ventral. I'm stuck on this one.

Posterior or dorsal. Again, the opposite of the words mentioned just superior to what I am writing here. My butt is located on the posterior side of my body. Dorsal also means; back of body.

Medial. The medial meaning the midline. Your vagina or penis is located on the medial side of the body.

Lateral. Your little finger is placed on the lateral side of your hand. Lateral is, therefore, meaning away from the midline. Nobody knows why. Later/o meaning side.

Proximal Proximal is used to describe something that is close to the body. I am not sure what defines the body in this context. Is the shoulder proximal to the body or part of the body. I have only found examples that say the biceps is proximal to the body. Which leads me to the next word: Distal.

Distal. Again, the opposite. Meaning "far away" to the body. Continuing on the example written by my fingers that are distal from my body in text superior of this. I have no idea if I can use the words in this context. Probably not. Distal is "far away", or away from the body. Proxim meaning near, while far/distant.

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