Superior  Toward the head  E.g. The cranium is superior to the patella Inferior  Toward the feet  E.g. The carpals are inferior to the humerus

Anterior  Front  E.g. the mandible is on the anterior side of the head Posterior  Back  E.g. the vertebrae is on the posterior side of the trunk

Medial  Toward the midline  E.g. the large phalange is on the medial side of the metatarsals Lateral  Toward the side  E.g. the ears are on the lateral aspect of the head

Proximal  Nearer the body  E.g. the shoulder is at the proximal end of the humerus Distal  Further from the trunk  E.g. the carpals are at the distal end of the ulna

Flexion  Bending movement that decreases the angle between two parts Extension  Straightening movement that increases the angle between body parts

Abduction  Motion that pulls a structure or part away from the midline of the body Adduction  Motion that pulls a structure or part toward the midline of the body, or towards the midline of a limb Circumduction  Combination of flexion, extension, adduction and abduction  E.g. spinning the arm when  bowling a cricket ball

Agonist  Agonist muscles cause a movement to occur through their own contraction Antagonist  Antagonist muscles oppose movement. This controls a motion, slows it down and returns a limb to its initial position.  Agonist/antagonist pairs  E.g. pectorals/latissimus dorsi; trapezius/deltoids quadriceps/hamstrings ; biceps/triceps; forearm flexors/extensors

NB: Anterior is sometimes called Ventral and posterior is sometimes called Dorsal

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