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Anatomy & Physiology vocabulary · Body Regions and Directional Terms

Posterior

Meaning in anatomy & physiology, with examples

/pɑːˈstɪriər/adjectiveCore term

In anatomy & physiology, posterior means: At or toward the back of the body. For example, the vertebral column is posterior to the heart.

In Turkish: arka, posterior

How it is used

The opposite of anterior, used in the same patterns: posterior to, posterior wall, posterior view. In humans, dorsal usually means the same thing. Clinicians also talk about the posterior compartment of the leg or a posterior approach in surgery.

Example sentences

  1. The kidneys lie against the posterior abdominal wall.

  2. On this posterior view of the skeleton, you can clearly see both shoulder blades.

Common collocations

  • posterior to
  • posterior wall
  • posterior view
  • posterior approach
  • posteriorly
  • anteriorAt or toward the front of the body. For example, the sternum (breastbone) is anterior to the heart.
  • 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.
  • 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.

More terms: Body Regions and Directional Terms

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