Forward. What goes before. This word is used when an organism is in anatomic position and it is necessary to describe a feature on its body so that others can understand without actually seeing the organism where something is in reference to something else. The nose is anterior to the ear. Note that anterior does not necessarily mean stomach or chest, because, for example, on a dog the head is anterior.

Also see superior, posterior, ventral, dorsal, cephalic, caudal, proximal, distal, medial, lateral, superficial, deep, prone, supine, plane, and region.