Anatomical position Definition Examples
names
Anterior Refers to the front of a body or is found towards the The pectorals (chest muscles) and abdominals
front of the body. stomach area) are anterior to the body.
Posterior Refers to the rear/back of the body or is towards the The hamstrings (rear thigh muscles) and gastro
back of the body. muscles) are posterior to the body.
Medial Towards the centre or middle of the body (midline of The legs are medial to the body during the dow
the body). a jumping jack/star jump
Lateral Towards the side of/away from the middle of the body. The arms are lateral to the body during the up
jumping jack/star jump
Superior Nearer to the head/away from the feet (Upper body). The Sternocleidomastoid (neck muscles) is sup
Inferior Further away from the head/towards the feet (lower The Metatarsals (bones in the foot) are inferio
body).
Peripheral Away from the centre of the body. The Biceps are peripheral to the body during th
phase of a bench press.
Superficial Refers to something closer to the surface of the body The abdominals are superficial to the digestive
than something else.
Deep Refers to something further inside the body than The heart is deeper in the body than the pecto
something else/ Inside the body (organs, bones,
muscles).
Proximal Closer to the centre of the body in comparison to The Latissimus dorsi (muscle in the back) is pro
something else. Tibialus anterior (muscle at the front of the shi
Distal Further away from the centre of the body in comparison The Tibialus anterior (muscle at the front of th
to something else. the Latissimus dorsi (muscle in the back) in the
Supine Facing upwards. Laying on your back facing the sky/ceiling.
Prone Facing downwards. Laying on your front facing the ground/floor.
names
Anterior Refers to the front of a body or is found towards the The pectorals (chest muscles) and abdominals
front of the body. stomach area) are anterior to the body.
Posterior Refers to the rear/back of the body or is towards the The hamstrings (rear thigh muscles) and gastro
back of the body. muscles) are posterior to the body.
Medial Towards the centre or middle of the body (midline of The legs are medial to the body during the dow
the body). a jumping jack/star jump
Lateral Towards the side of/away from the middle of the body. The arms are lateral to the body during the up
jumping jack/star jump
Superior Nearer to the head/away from the feet (Upper body). The Sternocleidomastoid (neck muscles) is sup
Inferior Further away from the head/towards the feet (lower The Metatarsals (bones in the foot) are inferio
body).
Peripheral Away from the centre of the body. The Biceps are peripheral to the body during th
phase of a bench press.
Superficial Refers to something closer to the surface of the body The abdominals are superficial to the digestive
than something else.
Deep Refers to something further inside the body than The heart is deeper in the body than the pecto
something else/ Inside the body (organs, bones,
muscles).
Proximal Closer to the centre of the body in comparison to The Latissimus dorsi (muscle in the back) is pro
something else. Tibialus anterior (muscle at the front of the shi
Distal Further away from the centre of the body in comparison The Tibialus anterior (muscle at the front of th
to something else. the Latissimus dorsi (muscle in the back) in the
Supine Facing upwards. Laying on your back facing the sky/ceiling.
Prone Facing downwards. Laying on your front facing the ground/floor.
