Direction Terms

Front 1

Superior (cranial or cephalad)

Back 1

Toward the head end or upper part of a structure or the body; above

Front 2

Inferior (caudal*)

Back 2

Away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure or the body; below.

Front 3

Ventral (anterioir ^)

Back 3

Toward or ath the front of the body; in front of)

Front 4

Dorsal (posterior^)

Back 4

Toward or at the backside of the body; behind

Front 5

Medial

Back 5

Toward or at the midline of the body; on the inner side of

Front 6

Lateral

Back 6

Away from the midline of the body; on the outer side of

Front 7

Intermediate

Back 7

Between a more medial and a more lateral structure

Front 8

Proximal

Back 8

Close to the orgin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

Front 9

Distal

Back 9

Farther from the orgin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk

Front 10

Superficial (external)

Back 10

Toward or at the body surface

Front 11

Deep (internal)

Back 11

Away from the body surface; more internal

Front 12

^

Back 12

Ventral and anterior are synonymous in humans but not in animals. Ventral reers to the belly of an animal and thus the inferior surface of animals. Likewise the dorsal and posterior surfaces are the same in humans, the term dorsal refers to an animal's back. Thus, the dorsal surface of animals is their superior surface.