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.)
lateral (adjective). more lateral, most lateral
Relating to the left or right side of the body, as opposed to the medial or "middle" of the body: The lungs are lateral to the heart.
medial (adjective), more medial, most medial
In the middle or inside the body, as opposed to lateral or the left or right side of the body: An individual's heart is medial to his or her arms.
An imaginary line that goes down the middle of the body or a body part: The midline is the medial line separating the body halves creating a mirror-image of each other,
muscle groups quiz
Medical questions about the locations of specified muscle groups
Where is the triceps brachii located? In the arm.
How about the tibialis anterior? The leg.
And the latissimus dorsi? In the back.
Finally, how about the gluteus maximus? It took long enough, but we are at the end!*
*The outermost part of the three large gluteus muscles that form each buttock in humans.
posterior (adjective), more posterior, most posterior
Referring to the back or behind, as opposed to the anterior or front of the body; A posterior cerebral artery provides and pumps blood to the back of the brain,
posteroanterior, PA (adjective) (not comparable)
Concerning a direction from the back to the front of a body, as opposed to anteroposterior or from the front to the back: Dr. Smith wanted Jill to have a posteroanterior chest X-ray performed to clear up the medical issue.
The rotation of the forearm and hand so that the palm is down (or a similar movement of the foot and leg, with the sole down), as opposed to supination: After the cast on Lynn's arm was removed, Dr. Med asked her to twist her arm and then after he saw a pronation with the palm facing the floor, she could go home again.
prone (adjective), more prone, most prone
Pertaining to the position of the front or ventral surface downward (lying face down), as opposed to supine: Mrs. Thompson liked sleeping in a prone way, and not on her back.
proximal (adjective), more proximal, most proximal
1. Referring to something that is closest to the body: The proximal is a section of an animal that is toward the center of the body, as opposed to distal, or that which is farther from the center.
2. Pertaining to something that is near, or next, or proximate; The first row of seats were proximal to the speakers's lectern.
2. Pertaining to something that is near, or next, or proximate; The first row of seats were proximal to the speakers's lectern.
sagittal (adjective) (not comparable)
A vertical plane that passes through the standing body from front to the back: The midsaggital , or median, plane splits the body into left and right halves.
superficial (noun), more superficial, most superficial
On the surface or the shallow, as opposed to deep: Sally accidentally cut her finger while preparing dinner, but luckily it was a superficial injury, so she cleaned it and put a bandaid on it.
superior (adjective) (not comparable)
Regarding something that is above, as opposed to inferior or below: A person's head is superior to all other parts of his or her body.
Rotation of the forearm and hand so that the palm is upward (or similar movement of the foot and the leg, with the sole upward), as opposed to pronation: After falling off the ladder,, Mr. Hill was not able to perform a supination with his right leg like the doctor had asked him to do.
supine (adjective), more supine, most supine
Regarding the conditions of lying on the back or dorsal surface downward (lying face up), as opposed to prone or with the front surface downward: Mary's father always like to sleep in a supine position because he could breathe easier.
transverse (adjective) (not comparable)
Regarding something that crosses from side to side; crossway: In medical school, Jack viewed a transverse section of a person's heart in his book.
Also see this Index or Menu for a variety of other topics.
