Directional Terms (Body Structure ch. 4)

• Abduction

  Movement AWAY from the midsagittal (median) plane of the body of one of its parts

  
• Adduction

  Movement TOWARD the midsagittal (median) plane of the body

  
• Medial


  Pertaining to the midline of the body or structure
• Lateral


  Pertaining to a side
• Superior (cephalad)


  TOWARD the head of upper portion of a structure
• Inferior (caudal)


  AWAY from the head, or toward the tail or lower part of a structure
• Proximal


  Nearer to the center (trunk of the body) or to the point of the attachment to the body
• Distal


  FURTHER from the the center (trunk of the body) or from the point of attachment to the body
• Anterior (ventral)


  FRONT of the body
• Posterior (dorsal)


  BACK of the body
• Parietal

  Pertaining to the OUTER WALL of the body cavity
• Visceral


  Pertaining to the viscera, or INTERNAL organs (especially abdominal organs)
• Prone


  Lying on the abdomen, FACE DOWN
• Supine


  Lying horizontally on the back, FACE UP
• Inversion


  Turning INWARD or inside out
• Eversion


  Turning OUTWARD
• Palmar


  Pertaining to the PALM of the hand
• Platar


  Pertaining to the sole of the FOOT
• Superficial


  Toward the surface of the body (internal)
• Deep


  Away from the surface of the body (internal)
• Direction terms help indicate the position of structures, surfaces, and regions of the body (relative to anatomical position)