The FAB glossary

inferior

This is a general anatomical term of direction or position. It is the equivalent of below or downwards as in:

1. the femoral artery passes inferiorly (i.e. downwards) from the femoral triangle into the adductor canal
2. the tibia is inferior to (i.e. below) the femur
3. terminal branches of the tibial nerve supply skin over the inferior surface of the foot (i.e. its undersurface or sole).

It is the opposite of the term "superior" meaning above or upwards.

However, with structures such as limbs, which can alter their shape and position quite markedly (for example, the upper limb can hang down at the side or be held straight up in the air), it has become useful to use a different pair of words - proximal and distal. Proximal means nearer the trunk of the body and distal means further away from the trunk. Thus distally and distal could more readily be substituted for the terms inferiorly and inferior in sentences 1) and 2).

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