medial ; toward the midline of the body . Anatomical terms are used to describe specific areas and movements of the body as well as the relation of body parts to each other. The Parietal Ridge begins approximately three finger-widths above the top of the ear. inferior ; below . First, prefixes and suffixes, most of which are derived from ancient Greek or classical Latin, have a droppable -o-. These planes are imaginary lines – vertical or horizontal – drawn through an upright body. Superior (or cranial) means “toward the head end of the body” or “higher/above.” You can remember this because the head of a company is your superior at work. He or she holds a “higher” position than you do. See also: cranial (1). In directional terms, body structures toward the midsagittal plane tend to be medial while structures farther away tend to be distal. Superior or cranial - toward the head end of the body; upper (example, the hand is part of the superior extremity). lateral ; toward the side of the body . Directional Terms. distal ; farther from the point of attachment or from a given reference point . toward the back of the body . The term parietal ridge refers to the bony ridge along the upper sides of the head. caudal Standard anatomical terms for direction include: Superior and inferior (cranial and caudal) are used when referring to parts of the body which are toward an end of the body. The toes are anterior to the foot. proximal ; nearer to the point of attachment or to a given reference point . Cephalad definition is - toward the head or anterior end of the body. Directional terms describe the positions of structures relative to other structures or locations in the body. It is essential for health professionals to have knowledge of anatomical terms in order to effectively communicate with colleagues in a scientific manner. The terms are used to describe a specific body part. The midsagittal plane travels down the midline so the left and right side will both be equal in size. They are above you in authority. Inferior or caudal - away from the head; lower (example, the foot is part of the inferior extremity). The first pair of directional terms refer to the relative position toward or away from the head. Posterior (or dorsal) Describes the back or direction toward the back of the body. Temple: The Temples are the small areas just above and in front of the ears on each side of the head. Medical professionals often refer to sections of the body in terms of anatomical planes (flat surfaces). cranial (cephalic) toward the head . Commit these terms to memory to avoid confusion when you are studying or describing the locations of particular body parts. superior ; above . cephalad: ( sef'ă-lad ), In a direction toward the head. Anterior (or ventral) Describes the front or direction toward the front of the body. Terminology MCQ Medical Terminology Chapter 2 Which directional term means more toward the head or above another structure? This is a list of roots, suffixes, and prefixes used in medical terminology, their meanings, and their etymologies.Most of them are combining forms in New Latin and hence international scientific vocabulary.There are a few general rules about how they combine. Superior structures are toward the head (cranial) while inferior (caudal) structures are toward the feet. Naim 21:45 Medical Terminology Chapter 2 a. superior Summary. Listed below are general anatomical terms and their meanings. Midsagittal Plane: The midsagittal is a vertical plane running from front to back that divides the body into right and left sides.