What is posterior anatomy?
Posterior is often used as a technical term in biology and medicine to refer to the back side of things, and is the opposite of anterior, which refers to the front side.
What is inferior and medial?
The inner border toward the midline of the body will be the medial aspect. The upper portion toward the head will be the superior aspect of the lung. Finally, the inferior aspect will be toward the floor away from the head. View fullsize.
What is between superior and inferior?
0:352:39Superior and Inferior - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo with the skull invertible column brain and spinal cord cranial and superior can be used togetherMoreSo with the skull invertible column brain and spinal cord cranial and superior can be used together or inferior. And caudal can be used. Together.
What does inferior and lateral mean?
Inferior: Below, as opposed to superior. Inferolateral: Below and to one side. Both inferior and lateral. Lateral: Toward the left or right side of the body, as opposed to medial.
What is medial anatomy?
Medial means toward the middle or center. It is the opposite of lateral. The term is used to describe general positions of body parts. For example, the chest is medial to the arm.
What is distal anatomy?
In medicine, refers to a part of the body that is farther away from the center of the body than another part. For example, the fingers are distal to the shoulder. The opposite is proximal.
How do you differentiate proximal and distal from superior and inferior?
0:242:45proximal vs distal (anatomical directional terms) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhile distal would be the fingertips. Or proximal and distal of the leg where proximal is at the hipMoreWhile distal would be the fingertips. Or proximal and distal of the leg where proximal is at the hip attachment and distal would be the toes one could also then refer to into individual bones.
What is proximal and distal?
In medicine, it refers to parts of the body further away from the center. For example, the hand is distal to the shoulder. The thumb is distal to the wrist. Distal is the opposite of proximal. Distal refers to distance, while proximal indicates proximity.
What's the difference between proximal distal superior and inferior?
Or, similarly, the femur is proximal to the knee, which is proximal to the ankle, which is proximal to the toes. Superior and inferior: These terms reference the body's vertical axis, and a body part higher than another or above it is said to be superior to it; conversely, the other body part is inferior to the first.
What is lateral anatomy?
Lateral means to the side of, or away from, the middle of the body. Examples: The ears are lateral to the nose. The arms are lateral to the chest.
What is medial and lateral in anatomy?
A lateral orientation is a position away from the midline of the body. For instance, the arms are lateral to the chest, and the ears are lateral to the head. A medial orientation is a position toward the midline of the body. An example of medial orientation is the eyes, which are medial to the ears on the head.
What is difference between distal and lateral?
0:322:24What's the Difference Between Lateral and Medial? (preview) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis plane runs through the midline of the body. And anything located on either side of it can beMoreThis plane runs through the midline of the body. And anything located on either side of it can be lateral.
What is the difference between superior and inferior anatomy?
The main difference between superior and inferior in anatomy is that the term ‘superior’ describes the anatomical structures located above another whereas the term ‘inferior’ describes the anatomical structures located below another structure. For example, the head is the most superior structure of the body while feet is ...
What is superior inferior?
Superior and inferior are two anatomical terms in anatomy. Moreover, they are important in describing locations of different structures of the body.
What is superior anatomy?
‘Superior’ is the anatomical term that describes the structures of the body located above a particular structure. Moreover, this term comes from the Latin word ‘above’. In humans, the head is the most superior anatomical structure of the body. Therefore, the term ‘superior’ can also describe ...
What is the most superior structure in the human body?
In humans, the head is the most superior anatomical structure of the body. Therefore, the term ‘superior’ can also describe structures towards the head. Additionally, this term can be used to give the relative position of a particular anatomical structure of the body based on the altitude.
What is the inferior vena cava?
Clinical Significance. The inferior vena cava (also known as IVC or the posterior vena cava) is a large vein that carries blood from the torso and lower body to the right side of the heart. From there the blood is pumped to the lungs to get oxygen before going to the left side of the heart to be pumped back out to the body.
What is the function of the IVC?
Function. The primary function of the IVC is to carry deoxygenated blood that has circulated through the lower half of the body back to the right atrium of the heart. The IVC is responsible for moving all of the blood below the diaphragm, while the superior vena cava handles the blood above the diaphragm.
What is double IVC?
In this case, a double IVC is just that: two IVC veins instead of one. Its prevalence rate is typically 0.2% to 0.3%. 4 . Other variations may include azygous continuation of the IVC, where blood coming from the lower body drains into a different venous system called the azygous system.
What veins enter the IVC?
Other veins that enter into the IVC through the spinal cord include the hepatic veins, inferior phrenic veins, and lumbar vertebral veins. The IVC’s job is to drain all the blood from the lower half of the body including the feet, legs, thighs, pelvis, and abdomen.
Where does the IVC come from?
The IVC gets its name from its structure, as it is the lower, or inferior, part of the venae cavae, which are the two large veins responsible for the blood transport back to the right side of the heart. The IVC handles blood from the lower body while the other vein, known as the superior vena cava, carries the blood circulating in the upper half ...
Where does the IVC start?
Location. The IVC starts in the lower back where the right and left common iliac veins (two major leg veins) have joined together. Once the IVC is formed it runs under the abdominal cavity along the right side of the spinal column. It goes into the right atrium of the heart, in through the back side.
Can IVC have congenital differences?
Anatomical Variations. It’s possible for the IVC to have a congenital difference, and these are difficult to detect. 1 Often a person won’t have any symptoms to signal a defect in the IVC. Symptoms, when they do occur, include vague low back or abdominal pain. 2 .
What does inferior mean in medical terms?
1 : situated below and closer to the feet than another and especially another similar part of an upright body especially of a human being — compare superior sense 1. 2 : situated in a more posterior or ventral position in the body of a quadruped — compare superior sense 2. Keep scrolling for more.
What does "inferior" mean?
English Language Learners Definition of inferior. : of poor quality : low or lower in quality. : of little or less importance or value. : low or lower in rank. See the full definition for inferior in the English Language Learners Dictionary.

Superior – Definition, Anatomical Location, Significance
Inferior – Definition, Anatomical Location, Significance
- ‘Inferior’ is the opposite term of superior. The term can describe the structures located below the body. It also comes from the Latin word ‘below. Moreover, the anatomical position the most inferior part of the human body is the feet. Similarly, the term ‘inferior’ can describe the structures towards the feet in the human body. Additionally, in ot...
Similarities Between Superior and Inferior
- Superior and inferior are two anatomical terms in anatomy.
- Moreover, they are important in describing locations of different structures of the body.
Difference Between Superior and Inferior in Anatomy
- Definition
Superior refers to ‘above’ while inferior refers to ‘below’. - Anatomical Location
The term ‘superior’ is used to describe the anatomical structures above while the term ‘inferior’ is used to describe the anatomical structures below. Thus, this is the main difference between superior and inferior in anatomy.