Relationship Terms

• Relationship Terms


  Are paired positioning or anatomic terms that are used to describe relationships to parts of the body with the opposite meanings.
• Medial: towards the center; the inside part closest to the median plane

  Lateral: away from the center/ median plane/ midline of the body.
• Proximal: near the source/ beginning; the part closest to the trunk

  Distal: away from the source
• Proximal Interphalangeal joint (PIP)


  finger joint closest to the palm of the hand
• Distal Interphalangeal joint


  the joint near the distal end of the finger.
• Cephalad: toward the head end of the body.

  Caudal: away from the head end of the body.
• Interior: inside of something

  Exterior: on or near the outside
• Superficial: nearer the skin surface

  Deep: Farther away from the skin surface
• Ipsilateral: on the same side of the body

  Contralateral: on the opposite side of the body