Medical Terminology Simplified

2–14 What position of the body do the terms anter/ior and ventr/al refer to?

__________(of the body)

What position of the body do the terms poster/ior and dors/al refer to?

__________(of the body)

2–15 The term poster/o/anter/ior refers to the back and front of the body.

Identify the word elements in this frame that mean

pertaining to:__________

back:____________________ / _____

front:__________

Frame 2–10to Frame 2–15

Directional Terms • CHAPTER 2 35

Frontal (coronal)
plane

Median (midsagittal)
plane

Horizontal (transverse)
plane

Superior

Inferior

Posterior

Anterior

Lateral

Medial

Figure 2-2Body planes. (Note that the body

is in the anatomical position.)

front

back

-ior

poster/o

anter