Anatomical and Directional Language
Superior - towards the head or above. eg. your thigh is superior to your knee.
Inferior - away from the head or below. eg. your abdomen is inferior to your neck.
Anterior or ventral - towards the front of the body. eg. your sternum is anterior to your spine.
Posterior or dorsal - towards the back of the body. eg. your spine in posterior to your sternum.
Medial - towards the middle of the body. Imaging a vertical line down the center of your body when standing. This is the medial line. eg. your oesophagus is medial to your shoulder.
Lateral - away from the middle of the body. Imagine the same vertical line, except this time we are moving away from it. eg. your shoulder is lateral to your oesophagus.
Proximal - we use this with limbs. It means that the specific part of the limb is closer to where it attaches to the body. eg. your knee is proximal to your ankle.
Distal - also used with limbs. It means that the specific part of the limb is further from where the limb attaches to your body. eg. your wrist is distal to your elbow.
Superficial - nearer to the body's surface. eg. your skin is superficial to your bones.
Deep - further away to the body's surface. eg. your bones are deep to your skin.
Axial - the main trunk of the body. Including abdomen, head and neck.
Appendicular - the limbs. Arms, legs and their attachments.
