Anatomic Terms

When you’re talking anatomy in a scientific way, everyday words such as front, back, side, above, and below just aren’t precise enough. Instead you use the anatomic terms in the following list:

• Anterior or ventral: Toward the front of the body

• Posterior or dorsal: Toward the back of the body

• Cranial: Head end of body

• Caudal: Tail end of body

• Superior: A part above another part

• Inferior: A part below another part

• Medial: Toward the midline (median plane) of the body

• Lateral: Away from the midline of the body; toward the sides

• Proximal: Toward the point of attachment to the body

• Distal: Away from the point of attachment to the body

• Internal: Toward the inside of the body

• External: Toward the outside of the body

• Parietal: A membrane that covers an internal body wall

• Visceral: A membrane that covers an organ