PSY 448 Clinical Neuropsychology	Last revised: 09/01/2015
Orientation & Direction in the Human Nervous System

Rostral from ROSTRUM - A bird's beak [& the prow of a ship]

• A conquering Roman admiral would address his forces from the prow of a ship captured in a sea battle. A ship's prow reminded people of a bird's beak. Hence, a rostrum became a place someone spoke from.

Dorsal from DORSUM - An animal or person's back

Ventral from VENTER - The belly or abdomen

• A ventriloquist speaks from the belly.

Caudal from CAUDA - The tail of a horse

• The origin of the word, coward, since one sees the tail of the horse when a horse rider flees from battle

Superior is ABOVE while Proximal is NEAR while

Inferior is BELOW Distal is FAR