Anatomic orientation terms: In anatomy, certain terms are
used to denote orientation. For example, a structure may be
horizontal, as opposed to vertical.
Some of the terms of anatomic
orientation are as follows:
- Anterior: The front, as opposed to the posterior.
- Anteroposterior: From front to back, as opposed to
posteroanterior.
- Caudad: Toward the feet (or tail in embryology), as opposed to
cranial.
- Caudal: Pertaining to, situated in, or toward the tail or the hind part. Or below another structure.
- Cranial: Toward the head, as opposed to caudad.
- Deep: Away from the exterior surface or further into the body, as
opposed to superficial.
- Distal: Further from the beginning, as opposed to proximal.
- Dorsal: The back, as opposed to ventral.
- Horizontal: Parallel to the floor, a plane passing through the
standing body parallel to the floor.
- Inferior: Below, as opposed to superior.
- Inferolateral: Below and to one side. Both inferior and lateral.
- Lateral: Toward the left or right side of the body, as opposed to
medial.
- Medial: In the middle or inside, as opposed to lateral.
- Posterior: The back or behind, as opposed to the anterior.
- Posteroanterior: From back to front, as opposed to
anteroposterior.
- Pronation: Rotation of the forearm and hand so that the palm is
down (and the corresponding movement of the foot and leg with the
sole down), as opposed to supination.
- Prone: With the front or ventral surface downward (lying face
down), as opposed to supine.
- Proximal: Toward the beginning, as opposed to distal.
- Sagittal: A vertical plane passing through the standing body from
front to back. The mid-sagittal, or median plane, splits the body
into left and right halves.
- Superficial: On the surface or shallow, as opposed to deep.
- Superior: Above, as opposed to inferior.
- Supination: Rotation of the forearm and hand so that the palm is
upward (and the corresponding movement of the foot and leg), as
opposed to pronation.
- Supine: With the back or dorsal surface downward (lying face up),
as opposed to prone.
- Transverse: A horizontal plane passing through the standing body
parallel to the ground.
- Ventral: Pertaining to the abdomen, as opposed to dorsal.
- Vertical: Upright, as opposed to horizontal.
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