Positional and Directional Terms By Stephanie Tarlowe Block

Positional and Directional Terms By: Stephanie Tarlowe Block B

Why Use These? • Just like when looking at a map, the body has directions • Instead of North, South, East, and West, you use the terms covered in this presentation • These terms are used in surgery, xrays, dissections, and many other medical procedures

Back or Belly • Dorsal – From the Latin “dorsum” – Toward the back • Ventral – From the Latin “venter” – Toward the belly

Example • Fish have both dorsal and ventral fins

Head or Tail (Above the knee from belly to back) • Cranial – Closer to the cranium (skull) • Caudal – Closer to the tail • Rostral – On the head – Closer to the nose

<-- Caudal Cranial -->

Front or Back • Anterior – In front of – Front • Posterior – Behind – After – Following – Toward the rear

<-- Anterior Posterior -->

On a Limb (Side View) • Proximal – Toward the attached end of limb – Closer to body • Distal – Toward free end of limb – Further from body

On a Limb (Front View) • Axial – Toward the axis (middle) • Abaxial – Away from the axis

A=Axial B&C=Abaxial

Front and Back of Limbs • On the front lower limbs: – Dorsal replaces cranial – Palmar replaces caudal • On the rear lower limbs: – Dorsal replaces cranial – Plantar replaces caudal

Above or Below • Superior – Above – Over • Inferior – Below – Under