Anatomical Directional Terms

1. Anatomical Directional Terms ALF 20

2. Anatomical Position • Description: • Standing • Facing forward • Arms at sides • Palms facing forward • Thumbs pointed out

3. Remember All Anatomical terms are based on the assumption that the body is in anatomical position

4. Superior • Toward the head or upper part of a structure • E.g. Your chest is superior to your waist.

5. Inferior • Away from head or lower part of a structure • E.g. My hips are inferior to my collar bone.

6. Posterior • Toward the back of the body • E.g. Your heel is posterior to your toes.

7. Anterior • Towards the front of the body • E.g. Your mouth is anterior to your ears.

8. Medial • Nearer to the midline. • What is the midline? Imagine a line running down the middle of your body. From the top of your head to your nose, mouth, center of your chest, belly button, and so on. E.g. Your nose is medial to your ears.

9. Lateral • Farther away from the midline • E.g. Your ears are lateral to your nose.

10. Superficial • Toward the surface of the body • E.g. Your skin is superficial to your muscle.

11. Deep • Away from the surface of the body • E.g. Your bones are deep to your skin

12. Proximal • Closer to the body *Different than medial. Usually only applies to your limbs. • E.g. Your elbow is proximal to your wrist.

13. Distal • Farther away from the body • Different than Lateral. Usually only applies to your limbs. • E.g. Your ankle is distal to your knee.

14. Supine • Lying on back • E.g. When performing a bench press you are supine.

15. Prone • Lying face down • E.g. When doing a push-up you are prone