Okuzeka
Anatomy & Physiology vocabulary · Body Regions and Directional Terms

Anterior

Meaning in anatomy & physiology, with examples

/ænˈtɪriər/adjectiveCore term

In anatomy & physiology, anterior means: At or toward the front of the body. For example, the sternum (breastbone) is anterior to the heart.

In Turkish: ön, anterior

How it is used

Used in textbooks, imaging reports and clinical notes, often with 'to': X is anterior to Y. The opposite is posterior. In humans, ventral means the same as anterior. The adverb is anteriorly.

Example sentences

  1. The trachea lies anterior to the esophagus.

  2. The X-ray shows a small fracture on the anterior surface of the tibia.

Common collocations

  • anterior to
  • anterior surface
  • anterior view
  • anterior aspect
  • anteriorly
  • posteriorAt or toward the back of the body. For example, the vertebral column is posterior to the heart.
  • anatomical positionThe standard reference posture used to describe the body: standing upright, facing forward, arms at the sides with the palms facing forward, and feet together.
  • dorsalOn or toward the back of the body. In the hand and foot it also means the top surface: the back of the hand and the upper surface of the foot are dorsal.

More terms: Body Regions and Directional Terms

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level:

This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.