Anatomical Orientation Vocabulary

Front 1

• Anterior

Back 1

The front, as opposed to the posterior.

Front 2

• Anteroposterior

Back 2

From front to back, as opposed to posteroanterior.

Hint 2

A

Front 3

• Caudad

Back 3

Toward the feet (or tail in embryology), as opposed to cranial.

Hint 3

C

Front 4

• Caudal

Back 4

Pertaining to, situated in, or toward the tail or the hind part. Or below another structure.

Hint 4

C

Front 5

• Cranial

Back 5

Toward the head, as opposed to caudad

Hint 5

C

Front 6

• Deep

Back 6

Away from the exterior surface or further into the body, as opposed to superficial.

Hint 6

D

Front 7

• Dorsal

Back 7

The back, as opposed to ventral.

Hint 7

D

Front 8

• Horizontal

Back 8

Parallel to the floor, a plane passing through the standing body parallel to the floor.

Hint 8

H

Front 9

• Inferolateral

Back 9

Below and to one side. Both inferior and lateral.

Hint 9

I

Front 10

• Lateral

Back 10

Toward the left or right side of the body, as opposed to medial.

Hint 10

L

Front 11

• Posterior

Back 11

The back or behind, as opposed to the anterior.

Hint 11

P

Front 12

• Posteroanterior

Back 12

From back to front, as opposed to anteroposterior.

Hint 12

P

Front 13

• Pronation

Back 13

Rotation of the forearm and hand so that the palm is down (and the corresponding movement of the foot and leg with the sole down), as opposed to supination.

Hint 13

P

Front 14

• Prone

Back 14

With the front or ventral surface downward (lying face down), as opposed to supine.

Hint 14

P

Front 15

• Proximal

Back 15

Toward the beginning, as opposed to distal.

Hint 15

P

Front 16

• Sagittal

Back 16

A vertical plane passing through the standing body from front to back. The mid-sagittal, or median plane, splits the body into left and right halves.

Hint 16

S

Front 17

• Superficial

Back 17

On the surface or shallow, as opposed to deep.

Hint 17

S

Front 18

• Superior

Back 18

Above, as opposed to inferior.

Hint 18

S

Front 19

• Supination:

Back 19

Rotation of the forearm and hand so that the palm is upward (and the corresponding movement of the foot and leg), as opposed to pronation.

Hint 19

S

Front 20

• Supine:

Back 20

With the back or dorsal surface downward (lying face up), as opposed to prone.

Hint 20

S

Front 21

• Supine:

Back 21

With the back or dorsal surface downward (lying face up), as opposed to prone.

Hint 21

S

Front 22

• Transverse:

Back 22

A horizontal plane passing through the standing body parallel to the ground.

Hint 22

T

Front 23

• Ventral:

Back 23

Pertaining to the abdomen, as opposed to dorsal.

Hint 23

V

Front 24

• Vertical:

Back 24

Upright, as opposed to horizontal.

Hint 24

V

Front 25

Ball-and-socket joint

Back 25

The ball-shaped head of one bone fits into a depression (socket) in another bone

Hint 25

Shoulder, hip

Front 26

Condyloid joint

Back 26

Oval-shaped condyle of one bone fits into oval-shaped cavity of another bone.

Hint 26

Knuckles (joints between metacarpals and phalanges

Front 27

Gliding joint

Back 27

Flat or slightly curved surfaces join

Hint 27

Joints between carpal bones (wrist) and between tarsal bones (ankle)

Front 28

Hinge joint

Back 28

Convex surface joins with concave surface

Hint 28

Elbow

Front 29

Pivot joint

Back 29

Cylinder-shaped projection on one bone is surrounded by a ring of another bone and ligament

Hint 29

Joint between radius and ulna at elbow and joint between atlas and axis at top of vertebral column

Front 30

Saddle joint

Back 30

Each bone is saddle shaped and fits into the saddle-shaped region of the opposite bone

Hint 30

Joint between carpal and metacarpal bones of the thumb