Directional Terms For Humans

Front 1

Right

Back 1

- Toward the body's right side.
- The ___ ear.

Front 2

Left

Back 2

- Toward the body's left side.
- The ___ ear.

Front 3

Dorsal

Back 3

- Back
- Toward the back
- The spine is ____ to the breastbone.

Front 4

Inferior

Back 4

- Lower
- Below
- The nose is ___ to the forehead.

Front 5

Ventral

Back 5

- Belly
- Toward the belly.
- The navel is ____ to the spine.

Front 6

Superior

Back 6

- Higher
- Above
- The mouth is ___ to the chin.

Front 7

Proximal

Back 7

- Nearest.
- Closer to the point of attachment.
- The elbow is ____ to the wrist.

Front 8

Anterior

Back 8

- To go before.
- Toward the front of the body.
- The teeth are ____ to the throat.

Front 9

Distal

Back 9

- To be distant.
- Farther from a point of attachment.
- The knee is ____ to the hip.

Front 10

Posterior

Back 10

- Following
- Toward the back of the body.
- The brain is ____ to the eyes.

Front 11

Lateral

Back 11

- Side
- Away from the midline of the body.
- The nipple is ____ to the breastbone.

Front 12

Medial

Back 12

- Middle.
- Toward the middle or midline of the body.
- The bridges of the nose is ____ to the eye.

Front 13

Superficial

Back 13

- Surface
- Toward or on the surface.
- The skin is ____ to the muscle.

Front 14

Deep

Back 14

- Away from the surface, internal.
- The lungs are ____ to the ribs.

Front 15

Ipsilateral

Back 15

- Same side.

Front 16

Contralateral

Back 16

- Opposite side.

Front 17

Unilateral

Back 17

- One side.

Front 18

Bilateral

Back 18

- Both sides.

Front 19

Prone

Back 19

- Face up.

Front 20

Supine

Back 20

- Face up.

Front 21

Arm

Back 21

- Shoulder to elbow.

Front 22

Forearm

Back 22

- Elbow to wrist.

Front 23

Thigh

Back 23

- Hip to knee.

Front 24

Leg

Back 24

Knee to ankle.

Front 25

Flexion

Back 25

- Decreasing joint angle in saggital plane.

Front 26

Extension

Back 26

- Increasing joint angle in saggital plane.

Front 27

Abduction

Back 27

- Away from midline in frontal plane.

Front 28

Adduction

Back 28

- Toward midline in frontal plane.

Front 29

Horizontal Abduction

Back 29

- Away from midlin ein transverse plane.

Front 30

Internal (media) Rotation

Back 30

- Toward midline in transverse plane.

Front 31

External (lateral) Rotation

Back 31

- Away from midline in transverse plane.

Front 32

Lateral Flexon (R/L)

Back 32

- Away from midline in frontal plane; common in neck and trunk.

Front 33

Rotaion (R/L)

Back 33

- In transverse plane; comon in trunk and neck.

Front 34

Elevation

Back 34

- Superior shoulder movement in frontal plane.

Front 35

Depression

Back 35

- Inferior shoulder movement in frontal plane.

Front 36

Retraction

Back 36

- Scapula toward spine in transverse plane.

Front 37

Protraction

Back 37

- Scapula away from spine in transverse plane.

Front 38

Circumduction

Back 38

- Circular movement involving flexion, extension, ADD and ABD.

Front 39

Radial/Ulnar Deviation

Back 39

- Movement of wrist and frontal plane.

Front 40

Opposition

Back 40

- Thumb to 5th digit movement.

Front 41

Eversion/Inversion

Back 41

- ADD/ABD of ankle.

Front 42

Dorsi/Plantar Flexsion

Back 42

- Foot movement in saggital plane.

Front 43

Pronation

Back 43

- Inward movement/rolling of wrist.

Front 44

Supination

Back 44

- Outward movement/rolling of wrist.