Veterinary Anatomy & Physiology Chapter 1 Verified A+
Adjacent ✔️✔️Next to, adjoining, or close to.
Cranial ✔️✔️Pertaining to the cranium or head end of the body, or denoting a position more toward
the cranium or head end of the body than some other reference point (body part). Can also be a
positional term that means the front side of the leg above the carpus and tarsus.
Caudal ✔️✔️Pertaining to the tail end of the body or denoting a position more toward the tail or rear
of the body than some other reference point (body part). Or, pertaining to the back side of the leg above
the carpus and tarsus.
Cephalic ✔️✔️Pertaining to the head.
Rostral ✔️✔️Pertaining to the nose end of the head or toward the nose.
Dorsal ✔️✔️Pertaining to the back area of the quadruped or denoting a position more toward the
back (upward) than some other reference point. Can also be a positional term that applies to the side of
the leg opposite the palmar and plantar sides or, in other words, the front side of the leg from the
carpus and tarsus distally (down).
Ventral ✔️✔️Pertaining to the belly or underside of a quadruped or denoting a position more toward
the belly (downward) than some other reference point (body part).
Lateral ✔️✔️Denoting a position farther away from the median plane of the body or of a structure, on
the side or toward the side away from the median plane, or pertaining to the side of the body or of a
structure.
Medial ✔️✔️Denoting a position closer to the median plane of the body or of a structure, toward the
middle or median plane of the body or of a structure.
, Oblique ✔️✔️At an angle or pertaining to an angle.
Superficial ✔️✔️Near the surface; not deep.
Deep ✔️✔️Situated far beneath the surface; not superficial.
Peripheral ✔️✔️Pertaining to or situated near the outer areas or surface of the body or a structure.
Proximal ✔️✔️Nearest to the center of the body relative to another body part, or a location on a body
part relative to another more distant location.
Distal ✔️✔️Farthest from the center of the body relative to another body part, or a location on a body
part relative to another closer location.
Superior ✔️✔️Above, directed above, or pertaining to that which is above.
Inferior ✔️✔️Below, underneath, directed below, or pertaining to that which is below.
Palmar (volar) ✔️✔️The caudal surface of the front leg from the carpus to the phalanges. This includes
the bottom surface of the front foot.
Plantar ✔️✔️The caudal surface of the hind leg from the hock to the phalanges. This includes the
bottom surface of the hind foot.
Prone ✔️✔️To lie face down, in ventral recumbency.
Recumbent ✔️✔️Lying down.
Dorsal Recumbency ✔️✔️Lying on its back, face up.
Adjacent ✔️✔️Next to, adjoining, or close to.
Cranial ✔️✔️Pertaining to the cranium or head end of the body, or denoting a position more toward
the cranium or head end of the body than some other reference point (body part). Can also be a
positional term that means the front side of the leg above the carpus and tarsus.
Caudal ✔️✔️Pertaining to the tail end of the body or denoting a position more toward the tail or rear
of the body than some other reference point (body part). Or, pertaining to the back side of the leg above
the carpus and tarsus.
Cephalic ✔️✔️Pertaining to the head.
Rostral ✔️✔️Pertaining to the nose end of the head or toward the nose.
Dorsal ✔️✔️Pertaining to the back area of the quadruped or denoting a position more toward the
back (upward) than some other reference point. Can also be a positional term that applies to the side of
the leg opposite the palmar and plantar sides or, in other words, the front side of the leg from the
carpus and tarsus distally (down).
Ventral ✔️✔️Pertaining to the belly or underside of a quadruped or denoting a position more toward
the belly (downward) than some other reference point (body part).
Lateral ✔️✔️Denoting a position farther away from the median plane of the body or of a structure, on
the side or toward the side away from the median plane, or pertaining to the side of the body or of a
structure.
Medial ✔️✔️Denoting a position closer to the median plane of the body or of a structure, toward the
middle or median plane of the body or of a structure.
, Oblique ✔️✔️At an angle or pertaining to an angle.
Superficial ✔️✔️Near the surface; not deep.
Deep ✔️✔️Situated far beneath the surface; not superficial.
Peripheral ✔️✔️Pertaining to or situated near the outer areas or surface of the body or a structure.
Proximal ✔️✔️Nearest to the center of the body relative to another body part, or a location on a body
part relative to another more distant location.
Distal ✔️✔️Farthest from the center of the body relative to another body part, or a location on a body
part relative to another closer location.
Superior ✔️✔️Above, directed above, or pertaining to that which is above.
Inferior ✔️✔️Below, underneath, directed below, or pertaining to that which is below.
Palmar (volar) ✔️✔️The caudal surface of the front leg from the carpus to the phalanges. This includes
the bottom surface of the front foot.
Plantar ✔️✔️The caudal surface of the hind leg from the hock to the phalanges. This includes the
bottom surface of the hind foot.
Prone ✔️✔️To lie face down, in ventral recumbency.
Recumbent ✔️✔️Lying down.
Dorsal Recumbency ✔️✔️Lying on its back, face up.
