Directional terms

Directional terms are used to identify how one structure is located on the body relative to another. The terms are vital to understanding and talking about anatomy, as they decrease the ambiguity that might arise when describing certain locations of bodily structures. The directional terms are divided into pairs:

• Anterior and Posterior

• Ventral and Dorsal

• Superior and Inferior

• Medial and Lateral

• Proximal and Distal

• Superficial and Deep

Image 1: Directional terms on a human model.