RELATIVE DIRECTIONAL TERMS

RELATIVE DIRECTIONAL TERMS

RELATIVE

MEANS location of one part of the body in relation to another part of the body



DIRECTIONAL TERMS

1. SUPERIOR-INFERIOR
.

          a.  SUPERIOR/ CRANIAL/ CEPHALIC

                                     -Towards the head
                                                        -Toward the upper part of the structure.

                                     eg. the leg is superior to the foot

         b. INFERIOR/ CAUDAL

                                      - Towards the feet
                                                         - Toward the lower part of a structure.
                                      - away from the head.

                                       eg. the foot is inferior to the head   
 

2. ANTERIOR-POSTERIOR

        a. ANTERIOR/ VENTRAL

                                     - towards the front part of the body

                                      eg. the nose is anterior to the ears



        b.  POSTERIOR/ DORSAL

                                      -Towards the back of the body

                                       eg.  the ears are posterior to the nose



3. MEDIAL- LATERAL

a. MEDIAL

                   - towards the midline of the body

                    eg. the nose is medial to the eyes

b. LATERAL

                   - away from midline of the body

                    eg.  the eyes are lateral to the nose

4. INTERMEDIATE

                       - between two structures

eg.  The transverse colon is intermediate between the ascending and descending colons.


5.  IPSILATERAL - CONTRALATERAL

a. IPSILATERAL

                -On the same side of the body as another structure.

eg.  The gall bladder and ascending colon are ipsilateral.

b. CONTRALATERAL

                -On the opposite side of the body from another structure.

eg. The ascending and descending colons are contralateral.


6. PROXIMAL - DISTAL

a. PROXIMAL

                -Toward / nearer the trunk of the body  or attached end of the limb
                - nearer to the origination of a structure.

eg. The shoulder is proximal to the wrist.

b. DISTAL

           -Away / farther from the trunk of the body or attached end of the limb.

           -farther from the origination of a structure.

eg. The wrist is distal to the forearm.



7.  SUPERFICIAL / DEEP  

a. SUPERFICIAL/ EXTERNAL

                              -Nearer the surface of the body
                              -Toward or on the surface of the body

                                   eg. The ribs are superficial to the heart.

b. DEEP/ INTERNAL

                               - Farther/ away from the surface of the body.

                             eg.  The heart is deeper to the ribs.

8.  PERIPHERAL

                  -Away from the central axis of the body.

eg.  Peripheral nerves radiate away from the brain and spinal cord.