Medical Orientation Words with Reference to the Body
(there are certain anatomic terms which present various situations; for example, a body part may be horizontal, as opposed to vertical; in front as opposed to being behind or at the back; above as opposed to being under, etc.)
anterior (adjective) (not comparable)
A reference to the front, as opposed to the posterior part: The breastbone is part of the anterior surface of the chest.
anteroposterior, AP (adjective) (not comparable)
Referring to the direction from the front to the back, as opposed to "posteroanterior": When a chest X-ray is taken with the patient's back against the film plate and the X-ray machine is in front of the patient, it is referred to as an AP, or anteroposterior, view.
ascending (adjective) (not comparable)
Concerning something going upward: The ascending aorta is the portion of the aorta that proceeds upward as it leaves the heart to form the beginning of the arch of the aorta.
caudad (adjective) (not comparable)
Pertaining to the direction of, or toward the feet (or tail, in embryology), as opposed to cranial: The caudad region of a body is the posterior end.
cranial (adjective) (not comparable)
Descriptive of the skull, or toward the head, as opposed to caudad: Cranial nerves are those that are connected to the brain.
deep (adjective), deeper, more deep; deepest, most deep
Pertaining to the direction away from the exterior surface or farther into the body, as opposed to superficial: One of the two men involved in the physical conflict stabbed the other one with a long knife inflicting an injury with a deep gash
descending (adjective) (not comparable)
Referring to a downward descent: The descending aorta is the portion of the aorta that goes downward from the top of the arch of the aorta.
distal (adjective), more distal, most distal
Referring to something farther from the beginning, as opposed to proximal or toward the beginning: When Virginia fell down on the ice, she fractured her right distal radius which had to be operated on including staying in hospital for three days!. .
dorsal (adjective), more dorsal, most dorsal
Referring to the back, as opposed to the ventral or the abdomen: The dorsal part of a person's hand or foot is the top surface
A dolphin has a dorsal fin on its back.
external (adjective), more external, most external
Concerning something situated on the outside of the body: Dr. Fiske gave Virginia some cream to apply on the skin of her hand, and reserved only for external use.
extra (prefix)
A Latin prefix that indicates "outside of": In school, Grace took part in an extracurricular activity which was cooking. which was not part of the regular classes she had to take. l
horizontal (adjective), more horizontal, most horizontal
Parallel to the floor; a plane that passes through the standing body that is parallel to the floor: The lines in her diary were all horizontal, and easy to write on.
inferior (adjective), mor inferior, most inferior
Concerning something that is below, as opposed to superior or above: The location of a person's intestine is inferior to his or stomach.
internal (adjective), mosre internal, most internal
Situated on the inside as opposed to the surface or exterior: Following the car accident, Alice suffered from internal injuries which had to be operated on.
intra (prefix)
A Latin prefix indicating "within" as opposed to the "outside".= In hospital, Jeff's medication was administered from a drip in an intravenous method.
Also see this Index or Menu for a variety of other topics.
