anteroposteriorly

Anteroposteriorly is an adverb describing a direction in the human body or anatomical structures, from the anterior (front) to the posterior (back) aspect. It relates to the anteroposterior axis, one of the standard anatomical axes.

In medicine and anatomy, the term is used to describe orientation of structures, lines, or growth directions, and to describe imaging projections or surgical approaches. For example, a fracture may extend anteroposteriorly, or a lesion may be oriented anteroposteriorly. In radiology, anteroposterior (AP) projection means the X-ray beam passes from front to back (as opposed to PA projection, which passes from back to front). The term is directional and context-dependent, often requiring specification of patient position (supine, upright) and projection.

In planning and reporting, anteroposteriorly helps convey spatial relationships, such as the alignment of bones, the course of a vascular structure, or the trajectory of instruments in procedures. It is used alongside other directional terms like ventral, dorsal, proximal, distal, superior, and inferior to describe location. The language is standard across medical and scientific texts, though usage can vary by specialty.