Caudal
Caudal
Caudal (/ˈkɔːdəl/), derived from the Latin word cauda meaning "tail", is a term used in anatomy to describe something situated toward the tail end of the body. It is the opposite of cranial or cephalic, which refers to the head end of the body.
Etymology
The term caudal is derived from the Latin word cauda, which translates to "tail". It is used in anatomical nomenclature to denote the position of an anatomical structure that is closer to the tail end of the body.
Usage
In human anatomy, the term caudal is used to refer to the lower (posterior) portion of the body or a body part, or closer to the feet. For example, the spinal cord extends caudally from the brain. In the standard anatomical position, the caudal direction points towards the feet. However, in quadruped animals, the term caudal refers to the posterior part of the body.
Related Terms
- Cranial: Pertaining to the head end of the body, opposite of caudal.
- Rostral: Towards the beak or nose, often used in neuroanatomy to describe structures closer to the front of the brain.
- Dorsal: Referring to the back or upper side of an organism.
- Ventral: Pertaining to the front or lower side of an organism, opposite of dorsal.
- Proximal: Closer to the point of attachment or origin, for example, the shoulder is proximal to the hand.
- Distal: Further from the point of attachment or origin, for example, the hand is distal to the shoulder.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Caudal
- Wikipedia's article - Caudal
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