Guide Name: Health Care Terminology
Course: TPJ3M
Describe in your own words why
Health Care/Medical Terminology
is necessary and the importance
of the Anatomical Position:
Anatomical position is the standard reference position that refers to standing erect with the head and
feet facing forward and with the arms down by the sides with the palms facing forward.
Prone means lying on the front with the face downward.
Supine refers to lying on the back with the face upward.
Directional Terms
Anterior (ventral) – means closer to the front side of the body or in front of;
Posterior (dorsal) – means closer to the back side of the body or in back of.
For example, the biceps brachii muscle is located on the anterior arm and is anterior
to the triceps brachii, which is located on the posterior arm.
Superior (cranial) – means closer toward the head or above;
Inferior (caudal) – means closer toward the feet or below.
For example, the nose is superior to the mouth but inferior to the eyes.
Proximal- means closer to the root of the limb or towards the body;
Distal- means farther from the root of the limb or away from the body.
For example, the elbow is proximal to the wrist but distal to the shoulder joint.
Medial- means closer toward the midline of the body (or median plane)
Lateral- means farther from the midline.
For example, the middle finger is lateral to the little finger but medial
to the thumb.
Superficial- means closer to the surface of the body
Deep- means farther from the surface of the body
Intermediate- between superficial and deep
For example, the internal oblique abdominal is deep to the rectus abdominis but
superficial to the transverse abdominis muscle.
Palmar- is a specialized term that refers to the anterior aspect or
surface of the hand.
Dorsal- refers to the posterior aspect or surface of the hand, as well as
the top aspect or surface of the foot.
Plantar- refers to the bottom aspect or surface of the foot.
TASK: Create flash cards of these terms to help you study – practice with
classmates.