Directional terms: these are relative terms. They must always be used in comparison of two structures. For example, one cannot say that the liver is anterior or inferior. One must say that the liver is anterior to the spine or inferior to the brain.
1. Anterior (ventral): toward front
2. Posterior (dorsal): toward back
3. Superior (cranial): toward the head
4. Inferior (caudal): away from the head; toward the tail
5. Medial: toward the midline of the body
6. Lateral: away from the midline of the body
7. Proximal: closer to any point of reference (i.e. attachment, origin, center of the body). refers to extremities
8. Distal: farther from any point of reference (i.e. attachment, origin, center of the body). refers to extremities
9. Superficial (external): located close to or on the body surface
10. Deep (internal): located farther beneath the body surface than the superficial structure.
Regional terms: These describe regions of the body.
1. Cervical: refers to the neck region
2. Thoracic: the portion of the body between the neck and the abdomen, commonly referred to as the chest
3. Lumbar: the portion of the back between the thorax and the pelvis
4. Sacral: the lower portion of the back just superior to the buttocks
5. Plantar: the sole of the foot, the top of the foot; dorsal surface
6. Palmar: the anterior surface of the hand; the posterior dorsal surface
7. Axilla: depression on the inferior surface of the attachment of the upper limb and the body trunk