Directional terms Flashcards
(13 cards)
What does ‘Dorsal’ refer to?
Directed toward the back
= head, neck, trunk & tail; also applied to manus & pes.
What does ‘Ventral’ mean?
Directed toward the belly
for head, neck, trunk & tail
Define ‘Medial’.
Directed toward the midline.
‘Medial’ is the opposite of ‘lateral’.
What is ‘Lateral’ in anatomical terms?
Directed away from the midline, toward the side.
‘Lateral’ describes positions that are further from the center of the body.
What does ‘Cranial’ refer to?
Directed toward the cranium (brain case).
‘Cranial’ indicates a position that is closer to the head.
Define ‘Caudal’.
Directed toward the tail (& beyond).
‘Caudal’ is used to describe positions that are further from the head.
What does ‘Rostral’ mean?
Directed toward the nose (beak)
What is the meaning of ‘Proximal’?
Directed toward the torso (trunk) for limbs
Useful for the tail
Define ‘Distal’.
Directed away from the torso (trunk)
‘Distal’ is the opposite of ‘proximal’.
What is the meaning of ‘Palmar’?
Directed toward the ground surface of the manus.
‘Palmar’ specifically refers to the palm side of the hand.
Define ‘Plantar’.
Directed toward the ground surface of the pes.
‘Plantar’ specifically refers to the sole side of the foot.
What does ‘Axial’ mean in limb anatomy?
Directed toward the longitudinal central axis of a limb.
‘Axial’ describes positions aligned with the main axis of a limb.
What is ‘Abaxial’?
Directed away from the longitudinal central axis of a limb.
‘Abaxial’ is used to describe positions that are further from the central axis.
