What Does That Mean - Understanding Anatomical Directions

Have you ever tried to read a doctor's report that sounded like gibberish? Or felt lost in an exercise class because you didn't understand the directions? Most of us have experienced that moment of confusion.

Healthcare professionals and fitness instructors often use anatomical directions to describe where something is happening in the body or how it's moving. This is helpful because it keeps language standardized so that everyone can communicate clearly. But if you aren't familiar with these terms, they can feel confusing. Here is a cheat sheet to help provide some clarification.

Common Terms You May Come Across

Superior

• Definition: toward the top of your body

• What you may hear: "You should feel your superior abs as you curl up."

• What it means: You should feel your upper abs as you curl up.

Inferior

• Definition: toward the bottom of your body

• What you may hear: "Feel your inferior ribs sink down and in as you exhale."

• What it means: Feel your lower ribcage sink down and in as you exhale.

Anterior

• Definition: toward the front of your body

• What you may hear: "You should feel your abs and pecs working anteriorly."

• What it means: You should feel your abs and your chest muscles working on the front side of your body.

Posterior

• Definition: toward the back of your body

• What you may hear: "You should feel your ribcage expand posteriorly."

• What it means: You should feel the back side of your ribcage expand.

Medial

• Definition: toward your midline (the center of your body)

• What you may hear: "Medially rotate your hip."

• What it means: Turn your thigh bone inward, toward your other leg.

Lateral

• Definition: away from your midline

• What you may hear: "Perform a lateral lunge."

• What it means: Perform a side lunge, stepping away from your start position.

Proximal

• Definition: closer to your trunk

• What you may hear: "Be sure to stabilize proximally before lifting your arm."

• What it means: Be sure to stabilize your trunk and shoulder before lifting your arm.

Distal

• Definition: away from your trunk

• What you may hear: "You should not feel any pain radiating distally."

• What it means: You should not feel any pain traveling down your limbs.

Conclusion

Understanding anatomical directions helps make sense of the language that healthcare providers and movement professionals use every day. These terms aren't meant to confuse you - they're simply a precise way to describe where things are happening in your body. When you start to recognize them, those once-mysterious cues begin to click, and you can better follow along, communicate, and move with confidence.

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