Maryland Geriatric Nursing Aide (GNA) Practice Exam 2026 - Free GNA Practice Questions and Study Guide

The back of the body is described using the terms posterior and dorsal. These directions point to the rear or backside, opposite the front, which is called anterior or ventral. Medial refers to being toward the midline of the body, while lateral means away from the midline, so they describe different directional ideas. In practice, clinicians use posterior/dorsal to indicate the back side—for example, a wound on the back is on the posterior surface, not the front.