Anterior and posterior

"Anterior" and "posterior" are terms used to describe the position of body parts. "Anterior" describes something located at the front of the body. "Posterior" indicates something located at the back of the body.

Example

One example of the use of these terms is that the heart is anterior to the spine, meaning that it is located at the front of the body in the chest. The spine is posterior to the breastbone because it is at the back of the body.

These designations are also used to indicate the front and back of a single body part. For example, the front (anterior side) or back (posterior side) of the shoulder.

These terms are mainly used by (para)medical professionals, such as doctors and physical therapists, to communicate more precisely about the location of an injury or problem. As a patient, you do not necessarily need to be familiar with these terms, although they can help you better understand a medical report.