Terms for Direction and Orientation

anterior

front end

apical

at the end

basal

at the base

caudal

refers to the "tail"

distal

furtherest from the midline or point of attachment; opposite of proximal

dorsal

refers to the back; opposite of ventral

lateral

refers to the side

medial

refers to a position near the midline; median refers to a structure in the midline

posterior

rear end

proximal

closest to the midline or point of attachment; opposite of distal

ventral

refers to the belly; opposite of dorsal

Terms can be converted to adverbs by attaching -ad to the base.