Cranial and caudal

Cranial and caudal are terms used to describe the position of body parts relative to each other. Cranial refers to a body part that lies closer to the skull (cranium), while caudal describes a body part that lies closer to the tail (cauda) of the body.

Humans have lost their tail in the course of evolution. Caudal therefore refers more to the tailbone. Cranial and caudal are mainly used to describe the trunk. For the arms and legs, the terms proximal and distal are used.

Example

The rib cage lies cranial to the hips, meaning the rib cage is closer to the head than the hips. The lower back, in turn, lies caudal to the neck.

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