Anterior vs Posterior in Anatomy: Directional Terms Explained

In anatomy, anterior means toward the front of the body, and posterior means toward the back. These terms describe where one structure is in relation to another. Once you understand the standard position anatomists use, they become easier to apply.

What does anterior and posterior mean in anatomy?

Anterior means closer to the front of the body, while posterior means closer to the back. They are relative terms: a structure can be posterior to one structure and anterior to another.

For example, the heart is posterior to the sternum but anterior to the vertebral column. Both statements describe the heart accurately because each compares it with a different structure.

Anatomists use a standard reference called anatomical position: the person stands upright, faces forward, and has arms at the sides with palms facing forward. The directional relationships stay the same even if the person changes position.

What does anterior mean in anatomy?

Anterior means toward the front of the body or in front of another structure. The nose is anterior to the ears, and the kneecap is anterior to the knee joint.

In human anatomy, ventral is generally used for the front side of the body. When studying other animals, check the reference position: in a four-legged animal, ventral refers to the belly side, which is not necessarily the front.

What does posterior mean in anatomy?

Posterior means toward the back of the body or behind another structure. The shoulder blades are posterior to the ribs, and the vertebral column is posterior to the heart.

In human anatomy, dorsal generally refers to the back side. Posterior does not mean lower: a structure can be posterior to another without being inferior to it.

What are examples of anterior and posterior in anatomy?

Read each pair from left to right, then try reversing the relationship yourself.

• The sternum is anterior to the heart; the heart is posterior to the sternum.
• The heart is anterior to the vertebral column; the vertebral column is posterior to the heart.
• The nose is anterior to the ears; the ears are posterior to the nose.
• The kneecap is anterior to the knee joint; the knee joint is posterior to the kneecap.

To practice, imagine a person lying face up. The sternum is still anterior to the heart: the person's position in the room does not change the anatomical relationship.

What does superior and inferior mean in anatomy?

Superior means toward the head or above another structure; inferior means toward the feet or below another structure. For example, the heart is superior to the stomach, and the stomach is inferior to the heart.

Other useful pairs include medial and lateral, meaning toward and away from the body's midline, and proximal and distal, meaning nearer to and farther from a limb's point of attachment. These terms answer different location questions from anterior and posterior.

Directional terms describe structure and location, which are part of anatomy. For the distinction between structure and function, see anatomy vs. physiology.

How to remember directional terms in anatomy?

Start with a familiar pair: the sternum is in front of the heart, so it is anterior; the vertebral column is behind the heart, so it is posterior. Sketch the three structures from front to back, then say each relationship in both directions.

Practice with a diagram or your own body, using anatomical position as the reference. For more memory techniques, explore these anatomy mnemonics.

UPI Study's Anatomy and Physiology I course includes anatomical terminology in its first chapter. The table below shows the first six chapters and their lessons.

Which colleges list Anatomy and Physiology I on an equivalency chart?

These colleges show Anatomy and Physiology I (Biology 211) on their equivalency charts with UPI Study. Open a college for its full chart.

See the rest of the equivalency on the Anatomy and Physiology I course page, or open a college above for its full chart. ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.

Frequently Asked Questions about Anatomy

Final Thoughts on Anatomy

Choose two structures on an anatomy diagram and describe each one's position relative to the other. Then repeat with a new pair until anterior and posterior feel natural.