Okuzeka
Anatomy & Physiology vocabulary · Body Regions and Directional Terms

Inferior

Meaning in anatomy & physiology, with examples

/ɪnˈfɪriər/adjectiveCore term

In anatomy & physiology, inferior means: Away from the head or toward the lower part of a structure; below. For example, the stomach is inferior to the diaphragm.

In Turkish: alt, aşağıda, inferior

How it is used

The opposite of superior. It appears in comparisons (the knee is inferior to the hip) and in names such as the inferior vena cava. Caudal is a close synonym. As with superior, it never means 'worse' in anatomy.

Example sentences

  1. The stomach lies just inferior to the diaphragm on the left side.

  2. The inferior border of the liver can sometimes be felt just below the ribs.

Common collocations

  • inferior to
  • inferior border
  • inferior vena cava
  • inferior aspect
  • inferiorly
  • superiorToward the head or the upper part of a structure; above. For example, the head is superior to the shoulders.
  • 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.
  • distalFarther from the point where a limb joins the trunk, or farther from the beginning of a structure. For example, the fingers are distal to the wrist.

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.