Refers to the belly or underside of the body or body part
Ventr/o
Belly in Latin
Venture
To undertake
A ventral fin is on the belly.
Dorsal
Refers to the back and the cranial surface of the manus and pes.
Dors/o
Back in Latin
Endorse
Sign on the back
A dorsal fin is on the back.
Cranial
Toward the head
Crani/o
Skull in Latin
Caudal
Toward the tail
Cauda
Tail in Latin
Anterior
Front of the body
Anteri/o
Before
Anterior is used more in the description of organs or body parts because front and rear are confusing terms on quadrupeds. A quadruped's belly is oriented downward, not forward as in humans.
Posterior
Rear of the body
Posteri/o
Behind in Latin
Rostral
Nose end of the head
Rostrum
Beak in Latin
Cephalic
Pertaining to the head
Kephale
Head in Greek
Caudal
Toward the tail
Cauda
Tail in Latin
Medial
Toward the midline
Medi/o
Middle in Latin
Lateral
Away from the midline
Later/o
Side in Latin
Superior
Uppermost, above, toward the head
Superior and inferior are used more commonly in bipeds.
Super
Above in Latin
Inferior
Lowermost, below, toward the tail
Inferi
Lower in Latin
Proximal
Nearest the midline or nearest to the beginning of a structure.
Proxim/o
Next in Latin
Distal
Farthest from the midline or farthest from the beginning of a structure.
Dist/o
Distant in Latin
Superficial
Near the surface or external
Deep
Away from the surface, internal, or beneath the surface
Palmer
The caudal surface of the manus, including the carpus. Or from the antebrachial joint to the manus.